MTTMB: And the First Becomes the Last

Time has arrived to wind this series down, I added a couple songs and extended the series unintentionally. Inspiring and Empowered women to be shared and enough talking about myself (ha!) for a few weeks. I've only briefly shared about these two songs before and wanted to write about them for the series.

When I was a little girl, my Dad rocked me to sleep every night in our white rocking chair. He would hold us tightly and sing two songs, after telling us the story of ''Orangeylocks and the Three Purple Bears'' his version of Goldilocks. Every night, it was the same three songs over and over, the standard ''Rock-a-bye Baby'' and then two of his favorites.

The first song was only a few bars, or so I remember. My aunts always say, ''the girls fell asleep out of self defense'' so he may have sang more and I don't remember because I quickly fell asleep. The first bar is always in my head, ''I hear the whipporwhills whispering above, Tammy, Tammy, Tammy's in love'' he would sing the theme song from ''Tammy'' to us every night.




I never watched the Tammy movies until a few years ago.I finally found them on TMC and stayed up all night watching them all. I love those movies but moreso I love the song because it reminds me of being rocked to sleep every night.

The signature rocking song was one that I am sure he grew up hearing as well. My Gramps had a love of Gene Autry, he was his hero and he loved all things associated with Gene. So this song reminds me of both Dad and Gramps. Everynight this was the sign off song, if I didn't fall asleep to Tammy, this was the song I heard. ''From this valley they say you're going, I will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile''

It was such an important song, it is the song he danced with my sister Carrie to at her first wedding. There wasn't a dry eye in the room including Dad's because he had no clue she had picked that song to dance to. It was a wonderful moment that we will remember forever.

"But remember the Red River Valley and the cowboy who loved you so true''



So as I have now put you all to sleep, I hope you've enjoyed the trip down memory lane with me and learning more about my life. This series is something I look forward to all year long and is truly something that has helped me overcome my pre-birthday anxiety. Looking forward to the second installment in the inspiring women series on the 28th.

Happy Father's day Dad!

 I don't usually write about my family too much besides Marty and the kids. But I wanted to do something special for my Dad for Father's day this year. He loves to read my blog and he even joined Facebook to keep up with me. I couldn't think of a better thing to do than pay tribute publically to my Dad this Father's day.

  We have a mutual admiration society, my Dad and I only the two of us belong. We have always been close my whole life. We are a lot alike in so many ways, that's why we get along so well.  My earliest memories consist of my Dad rocking me to sleep every night, while singing to me. He would sing two songs every night, the same two songs. Red River Valley and Tammy, his sister's always joke that I went to sleep out of self defense. You can hear the songs playing as you read the blog, brings back great memories.






As I grew up, some of my most favorite memories are of going to work with him on Saturdays. Sometimes he would be refinishing a dance studio floor or working in a large home in Coldwater Canyon. I just liked to go, help him and most of all just spend time with him. I have always been a daddy's girl.





I like that picture, me, Dad and his beloved Budwieser! He loved taking us places, camping and seeing the country. He loved teaching us about the California missions and took us to see almost all of them. Our favorite is La Purisma outside of Buellton, we call it "our mission". He drove us across country just like his dad drove them across country.



  He often was the coolest dad on the block because he was always willing to take us and do fun things. He once took me and two friends to see New Kids On The Block and sat in the concert with thousands of screaming girls. He even once drove Christena Pinkerton and I into LA to see Andrea at her job because she wanted to go! Every weekend he would drive Carrie and I from concert to concert, once driving us out to Devore and sitting there with my Gramps for the duration of the show. He taught me about faith, showing me how to serve the Lord through his service to the Lord. He always made sure we went to Catechism and Mass.

 

   I think this is my all time favorite picture of us together. He gave Marty and I, such a nice wedding day. He supported me, even if he really did think I was too young. What a beautiful day that was, he was by my side the whole day. One time in high school, he and I went to see Father Of the Bride together, just us. I picked the song "The Way You Look Tonight" to dance with together from that movie. Marty's dad died just 11 months later. I know he has tried to fill the role as Dad to both of us. Very often, Marty asks me " When is your Dad coming to see us?" or "Call your Dad and tell him to come visit". He has been a really good support to both of us in our lives.

  He is a good brother to his sisters and brother, very often helping them complete home improvement projects with his brother in law's. He was a good son to his parents, caring for them until the end. He is a good friend, very often helping a friend out on the weekend. With all those things, there is one place he is even better.

  He is a GREAT grandpa to my kids and it is no secret his grandchildren are the apple of his eye. Conner is his little mini me, to the point it is kind of scary. He understands Elizabeth and always tries to keep up with her little world. He is always coming to their events, making sure they do good in school and just having fun with them. This picture is from when he was living on the Big Island of Hawaii and we went to visit him. The kids have such fond memories of their trip to see him and I think it is their favorite memory of Grandpa.


 

  Just last weekend, I got a rare opportunity to spend one on one time with my Dad. We got to go out to lunch together while the kids went to a party and Marty worked. It was a nice early Father's day celebration since we won't be together today. Thanks for loving us and being a faithful Dad. You mean the world to our little family and even though we aren't together today, know you are loved and appreciated by us. It hasn't always been easy or good, but through it all we have stuck together.