Happy Birthday, Dad

60 years ago, my Grandma Ann went into labor. She rushed to the hospital, and gave birth to a 10 pound bundle of joy. Back in the 50's women were not awake when they had their babies in hospitals. But my Grandma Ann was awake to give birth to my Dad. The hospital was very busy that day. She was on a gurney in the hallway waiting to be taken to a room. My Dad would wait for no one, and he would never be late. Such was his personality until the day he died. He was born into the world in the hallway of the hospital. As the story goes, the nurses anesthetized my Grandma Ann anyway so they would not get into trouble with the doctor for having her awake during the birth.

My Dad was my Grandma Ann's 4th child; she would have 8. The 4th to be born, my Dad would also be the 4th to die. Ray, Anne Marie, Pat, John, Mike, Kevin, Mary, and Brian. My Dad lost both of his parents at a young age. His Mom passed from Leukemia about a year and a half before I was born. She was a courageous woman and although was diagnosed at Stage 4, lived longer than her prognosis because she opted for the experimental treatment that doctors continue to give to their patients today. What a wonderful gift to leave to the world. His Dad passed from Emphysema when I was 3 or 4 years old. His brother Pat a few years later. His brother Kevin from Lung Cancer in the 90's. His brother Ray from a Heart Attack 2 years later.

My Dad's trials made him stronger, and he passed that strength to his children. Without the lessons he taught us we may not be moving on as well as we are now. I remember him telling me when our first dog died, "I know you're sad, I'm sad, too. But I have to go to work, and you have to go to school." Acknowledging pain, but instilling that life goes on. Life does go on. And on, and on whether you're ready for it or not.

After my Dad passed, I wondered how in the world did he carry on after his Mom died. How did he find that strength and how would I? But I remembered the funerals for his brothers. I remembered him crying, and I remembered him returning to laughter. We've always had laughter. Always. "Smile through your trials." Someone said that to me this weekend, and I thought of my Dad. Life is good, and life has difficulties. But difficulties do not turn life bad. Difficulties make us stronger, they teach us how to press on. When you are facing difficulties, look for the positive forces in your life. Believe me, you have at least one. You're alive. "Smile through your trials." My Dad always found something to laugh about, and he passed that on to his family. He was in the ICU, and we found laughter in our pain because of what he taught us. 

Today is his 60th birthday, and I made his favorite cake as I have on his last 2 birthdays. My Dad told me before his 57th birthday that he hates cake with strawberries. He likes chocolate, chocolate, and cherry cake. So I have made another chocolate, chocolate, and cherry cake in his memory. Happy birthday, Dad. I love you and I miss you more with every passing day.

1 box chocolate cake mix, 24oz Cherry pie filling. Make cake as directed, layer in the cherry pie filling, bake 40-45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. I did this all in my casserole dish. I have made this in the past by mixing the cherry pie filling directly into the batter as well and that makes for a very good and heavy cupcake. 

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