Have to give a little shout out to dads today. I think moms generally may say they don't get enough appreciation, but really, I often think they do. Dads on the other hand...and I mean real dads...dads that take the time, dads that talk the talk and walk the walk, dads that go out sledding with their little girls at 5:22 at night after date day with their wife, yeah, they deserve a shout out now and then. My dad was, and still is, one of those dads.

Dad was a hard working dad of the 70's don't get me wrong. And my mom did not work outside the home, so he had late hours, and power plant breakdowns, and overhaul, and business trips that took him away, but for the most part, my dad was there. 5:30 home, dinner together, weekends of tagging along, doing errands at the dump and the hardware stores, showing up at swim meets, videotaping musical performances. My dad was 100% there for me, and still is.

We had a bit of a stressful "Christmas Break." Tim was VERY sick right in the thick of it. So much so that he had to go to Urgent Care ON Christmas day. Still, Christmas goes on, and as much as my parents might have wanted to say no to coming to our germ infested home, they came. I mean in part they came for the kids, for sure, but dad hugging me and letting me cry for a little bit in the kitchen as everyone else had fun in the living room reminded me that I am a kid too, and that having someone take care of you, now and again, or when you really need it, is one of the best feelings in the world. It reminds you that as much as you think you need to do it all and be it all, someone else does always have your back.

As the week went on, I went with the kids and other family for a quick trip to NYC. I took along a Christmas gift from my dad, the next in the line of many cameras that he has bought for me over the years. I proceeded to drop said camera and break the SD card door right off of it and into 3 pieces. I mean, yeah, the camera still worked, but the door was pretty much done. And I was mad, sad, disappointed, not wanting to tell my dad. Yet, we came home, I fessed up, and ya know what? My dad fixed it. It is taped for now, because one latch is irreparable, but Dad's close and careful eye and steady hand fixed it up, made it functional. And Dad's sane engineering evaluation pinpointed the problem and is helping me find the full solution.

When I was a little girl I clearly remember that I used to say to other kids "Hey, my daddy can fix anything with tape." Ironically, this Christmas, in some ways that became true, but really, maybe the only thing my dad ever really did to fix things for me, was just being there. Just being MY DAD.

I have this little promise with myself to blog two times a month, and this month has been tough. I have been way to busy to ponder and think off, and quite frankly, am too busy tonight as well. The holidays are upon us after all, on top of the regular busy nature of the everyday. Still, tonight is notable. Do you remember getting new sneakers when you were a kid? Zips, or Kangaroos, or Reeboks, and thinking they totally made you jump higher, run faster, just function better than your normal everyday self? Almost imparting superpowers, if only for that first maiden wearing? Well, today, in the mail, Gwynn got her first pair of real hightop basketball sneakers, just in time for practice tonight. Tim brought her home from practice and warned me to brace myself for high enthusiasm. She was totally on Cloud 9. A beginner for sure, but trying hard, Coach told her, specifically, on her way out the door, that it was her best practice yet.

It must've been the shoes!

No surprise, though, as we all know, a great pair of shoes, heels, boots or even sneakers, really can make your day.

Or maybe it is just a great coach!
Thanks Coach Welcher! You're the best!