83 years ago today, two very important people were born into the world.
The first one was my father, Theodore Augustus Wyke. Born on January 5,
1923 in Hanford, California to Edward Thomas Wyke and Kathryn Almina
Russell.
My daddy....the sweetest, kindest, tenderest person I knew. Growing up,
I might not have described him with these words, but certainly, as a
grown woman and mother, this was how I came to know him.
My best memory of my Daddy is this ... once I was grown and on my own,
in EVERY single conversation I ever had with him , we always said "I
Love You.' That is something I will always be thankful for. No man was ever loved more.
I remember when I would call him and tell him I was coming to visit, he would say "Oh that's wonderful honey, what do you want for dinner?" The man LOVED to cook and he LOVED to eat.
And oh he would have been proud of our New Year's Eve dinner...sushi (vegan, of course!) The meal turned out wonderful! Miranda made most of it...thank you Grrgrr!
After Daddy died, I learned so many things about him. He was in a play when he was in high school. Huh? When he was in the Air Force, he traveled to the Phillipines and Bornea. I never knew anything about these times in his life.
There was still so much to learn from him. He died on 11/28/95. A Tuesday, four days after Thanksgiving. That was the last time I spoke to him. Our last exchange was "I Love You Daddy," "I Love You ShellShell." I think of him every day. I miss him.
Also born on 1/5/23 was Glen's Mom. She was one classy dame. Always gracious, always true, always genuine, always kind. She hated garlic and bugs but that was all she hated. She only saw beauty in the world. She brought out the best in people. She made friends EVERYWHERE she went. She had a charm about her and she endeared herself to anyone she ever met. I am a better person for having had her in my life and I am SO grateful Miranda had a chance to love her and know her.
Claire died this past year at the age of 82 on Sunday, April 10. I will forever treasure a handwritten note I have from Claire. It reads, "You are a shining example of the modern woman: bright, accomplished, modest, caring, and beautiful." I cry (like I'm doing now) when I think that this woman, whom I respected and loved so much, saw me this way.
I love you and hope you have some special memories that will help lift your spirits and get you through the day. Somedays the burden feels heavier than others. I wish us all comfort and I wish us strength.
Oh Shelsters! What a beautiful and loving tribute to our Daddy, the best Daddy in the whole wide world. I also, like you, cherish every memory of him, his kindness, tenderness, sensitivity, how he would cry at Hallmark commercials right along side me, and how we always said I love you. I also remember that whenever we would part, he would always kiss the bump on my forehead, my boo-boo from when I was five. Even before he went to heaven, when I visited him in the nursing home he would say "come here sisi", motion for me to bend down so he could kiss my forehead. I believe we are all better women for having had him in our life. I miss him everyday. Every single day.
Posted by: Simone | January 06, 2006 at 05:45 PM
Claire was a beauty, a beauty queen to be exact. Our very own beauty queen, in our OWN family. Now how many people can say that? I unfortunately only got to visit with her a few times, but she was always a woman of presence. When she was in the room you knew it. People were drawn to her, and it must have been because of her charm, which you mentioned. She had a way of making everyone feel important. And the legacy she leaves behind is one of grace, kindness and love.
Posted by: Simone | January 06, 2006 at 05:50 PM