This Dude......

This dude in this picture here....What can I say about him that would make all understand how SPECIAL he was?  My father, my friend, My DADDY....I was about 2 years old when this picture was taken.  But, I can remember the way I would always sit on his lap like that.  I remember when he came here for my graduation and we were at my Nana's house, he was in one of her living room chairs and as soon as I saw him sitting there comfortably it was like his lap was calling me so I sat right down and laid my face right on his shoulder.  I was 18 years old and that STILL wasn't the last time i did it....The very last time I remember was when he was a patient in Harlem's Amsterdam House, an extended care facility.............
He had a massive stroke on January 20, 2002.  He was in his guest room watching TV and Geri (his girlfriend for over 20 yrs) said she heard a loud "thump" and went into the room and he was on the floor saying he couldn't move.  She immediately got him help.  I love Geri because she loves my Daddy.  She called me and made sure I knew about EVERYTHING that was going on.  I drove up the first time to see him because I refused to wait & the plane ticket was super expensive on short notice.  When I got to his room he actually looked the same to me.  The only difference was the way he said, "Hello Baby" was a little different and that BROKE MY HEART because those two words out of his mouth said to me were like LIFE to me.
When I first saw him, he couldn't really feel anything below his neck....So the whole time I was there I made sure when I wanted him to feel my touch I would touch his head or his face.  When I was being selfish and just wanted to feel him.  I held his hand.
I was back & forth from Gary to NY for those next 2 years.  I remember when Geri needed to go to see her family in Phoenix for a week and she called and asked me to ask someone in the family that lived in New York to PLEASE check on him at least 2 or three times during that week to make sure he was alright (see went there EVERYDAY)....I told her before I make a phone call and get a bunch of excuses or someone doesn't show up, I'll come up there myself and look after my own Daddy, and I did.  I stayed at their home in Spanish Harlem and walked up to the nursing home every morning and stayed there ALL DAY....Just like Geri did.
At this point, Daddy could move his arms.  I was sitting reading and he was in his ambulatory chair.  He asked, "What you reading baby?" (his voice was better)...I said, "Mystic River"...He said, "Read it to me."  So I, pulled my chair up closer so he could hear me....as I got closer, he patted his lap for me to sit on it.  I smiled WIDE AS ALL OUTSIDE and hopped on up there and read him a couple of chapters....I was 34 years old...and I still felt as comfortable & SAFE as that two year old. MAN, I LOVE MY DADDY!
I thank & appreciate all who will read. Peace.