Dad's Page

"There is nothing

more sad

or glorious

than generations

changing hands."

John Mellencamp 1985

This Page Is For My Dad.

Husband for 56 years, Father, Grandfather, GreatGrandfather.

When i was growing up my dad was the center of my life. He was always there. He didn’t talk much. But i knew i could talk to him. Until i was thirty-six years old he never said the words i love you. But i knew he did. He showed me . In ways that might be considered shallow, or even harmful. He would bring me to the store and buy me some clothes. Once he bought me a watch. It had a big face and a wide strap. The strap was orange. BRIGHT ORANGE. But it was the 60’s and i liked it. He would bring me chocolate milk from Hoods. And wise bbq chips for a treat. My Dad was the center of my family. He could bring any of us out to the backyard and find us a four leaf clover. I couldn’t find one if my life depended on it. He could find one no matter what. Even though his life didn’t. IT WAS A GIFT HE HAD. Who am i to question why God gives the gifts He does.

I used to think maybe Dad would search the yard while i was playing, or at school and memorize where all the four leaf covers were. Yeah my Dad was the center of my family. In all ways good and bad. I used to get nervous if Mom put hot food on the table in front of him. Afraid he’d get upset and leave the room. See, he didn’t like his food hot. I don’t know why. Maybe a family he lived with made him eat hot food and it burned him. He didn’t have it so good growing up. Maybe it was the war. I’m sure his food wasn’t so hot over there. I used to get nervous when my kids ran around afraid he’d retreat into the cellar or garage. And we all knew you didn’t slam a door. I’d go running to keep a door from slamming behind my kids. “Jane”, “your kids need a baby-sitter.” I knew that meant I’d better slow them down to a quiet. Maybe the noise and confusion brought him back to the war. Maybe he just didn’t enjoy kids. Through the years he was the center of a lot of them. This center of the family. But he’s gone away now. AND I MISS HIM A LOT. AND now i know the reason I’d run to stop a door from slamming. It was because I LOVED HIM. He was a big part of my life. And now i realize I had a special four leaf clover in my backyard the whole time. It was there the day i was born.

GROWING UP IT WAS THE CENTER OF MY FAMILY.

I MISS YOU DAD.

Edward Thomas Snay

Nov. 1, 1921 - Jan. 18, 1998

My Dad's Page 2: Dedicated To My Dad
Virtual Cards and Flowers: This Page Is For My MOM
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