So often these days when I think of Daddy I hear that little clearing of his throat he always did before saying "Hello" when answering the phone. I close my eyes and I see that mischievous grin he wore so much of the time and feel the love and support I always felt whenever I spoke with him or was with him. When I was little I told Daddy that I was sorry I wasn't a boy, because I wanted him to have a son. He hugged me tight and told me how much he loved his girls and how glad he was that I was me. I had a fear that the house would burn down while I was sleeping and he would patiently take me down to the fuse box. He'd open it and check it to make sure it was ok. That always made me feel better so that I could sleep. Growing up everyone in town knew who I was because they all knew my dad. He loved to talk and he loved being with people. He was very intelligent and very articulate. He could talk about anything with anyone, but mostly he loved telling stories. We've all heard many of them more than once, but during those last few months when we spent so much time together I heard one or two for the first time. I will miss my conversations with him. So many little things will forever remind me of Daddy. Every time I see a Snickers bar I will think of him. We always had them in the house when I was growing up. He sure did love his sweets. One of my favorite treats--both then and now--was always one of Daddy's malted milks (or "MMs," as he called them). We all loved baking for him--June with her brownies, Sharon with her chocolate chip cookies, and my sister Heather with her sugar cookies. Whenever I eat a bowl of vanilla ice cream with Hershey's chocolate syrup I have to resist licking the bowl as Daddy used to do. During our growing years Daddy would come home from work and empty his pockets on the counter. Besides his change, there was always a pack of gum--usually Doublemint--sometimes Juicy Fruit or Spearmint, but always Wrigley's. There were three things Daddy was particular about--his chocolate syrup (had to be Hershey's), his gum (Wrigley's) and his dry roasted peanuts (only Planter's would do). I will never be able to see the letters PhD without hearing Daddy's voice saying, "Fee Dee," and seeing his eyes twinkle. When I hear someone whistling--whether on key or off--I will think of him. Now, also, whenever I hear a bird's song, because when he was in Manor Care Rehabilitation Center there was a young man who would whistle like a bird. It would drive Daddy nuts! "I don't like that!" he'd say. I just smiled and said, "Now you know how we feel." He'd laugh at that. And whenever I look at that Walleye he had hanging in his office at Rowell Labs I will remember opening the freezer when we lived in Baudette and seeing those tiny little minnow eyes looking at me. I don't know how old I was before I realized that not everyone kept frozen minnows in baggies in their freezer. One of my fondest memories of my growing up years is stopping by Rowell Labs on my way home from school. Daddy always had time for me and it became a habit to stop by and spend a few minutes with him. Just knowing he was there was such a great comfort. Always a comfort. And now that he is gone, I am still comforted--I still feel his love. That love will always be with me. I miss him terribly, but I thank God that we had him for as long as we did. My heart is filled with wonderful, wonderful memories of him and I call on them everyday. I love you, Daddy, and I miss you.