Daddy's Girl

This picture was taken in September of 1980.  I was 15 months old, and a Daddy's girl.  32 years later, nothing has changed, well except the fact I no longer sit on Dad's knee on a regular basis. I have always been a bit of a Daddy's girl.  I think we all were really. My dad coming from a family of 10 children, where there was an equal split between boys and girls, was blessed in fatherhood with three very lovely, well-mannered, do as we were told, soft-spoken girls.  (If anyone believes everything in that last statement you've clearly never been around my sisters and I, especially on a day after Christmas shopping trip).  I have amazing memories of being with my dad.  I used to love watching him work in the garage building projects.  He used to give me a scrap piece of wood to practice hammering or sanding.  I know how to drive a nail, the difference between a flat head and Phillips head screwdriver, and how to check the air in my tires all because of my dad.  Dad spent many years coaching me on and off the field, in sports and in life.  As much sawdust and dirt I remember being in my memories with Dad, there are also the times I remember as a little girl him braiding my hair, or laying in my bed telling me bedtime stories he would make up, or singing me songs until I fell asleep.  I loved listening to him, and I honestly still do.  We haven't always agreed, and frankly the older we both get, the more things in life we seem to have very differing opinions on, but we can always have a conversation.   I treasure those times.  I know how lucky I am at 33 to still have both of my parents, and to still have them together, when so many of my friends have already lost a parent or have to split time between the two.   I can't begin to express all the gratitude and respect I have for my dad, I love him dearly, and will forever be a Daddy's girl.  

The King and Ike

Today I was a tourist in my own hometown.  I spent this morning and afternoon with my lovely parents touring the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum.  I spent the first 18 years of my life living in Abilene, and today, two weeks away from my 33rd birthday, was my first time visiting the main attraction of my small hometown.  Originally my interest was finally piqued due to an Elvis exhibit being on display at the Eisenhower museum as part of the Smithsonian Institute Traveling Exhibition Service.  I remember hearing the dramatic voice of Elvis playing in our house growing up and both my parents singing along.  I remember Moody Blue on blue vinyl.  When I think of Elvis' music, it always put me in a good mood, my foot always starts moving, my body dancing, and my off key voice singing along with every word.  When I heard the exhibit Elvis at 21 Photographs by Alfred Wertheimer was going to be on display I knew I had to go, and I had to go with my parents.  I was not disappointed.  This exhibit consists of photographs taken by Alfred Wertheimer as he spent a week with Elvis in 1956.  The pictures are moving, emotional, moments captured of a man who was changing the landscape of music at the time.

While I went for the King, I was also swept up in Ike mania.  The library has a display of the building, construction, planning, and fundraising necessary to make the library a reality.  This was made more interesting to me because I went through the exhibit with my parents, and my dad was on the construction crew that built the Presidential library.  He pointed out the areas he worked on could describe the pictures in more detail, make it more interesting to me, someone who knows absolutely nothing about construction.  It was also interesting to see letters written by those who had been asked to help in the in the fundraising and strongly opposed the building of the library due to Eisenhower's beliefs. There's also a great exhibit of Mamie Eisenhower and her fashion.  She was a real fashionista of her time!   We spent two hours just on the museum and library, and also visited the chapel.  We could have spent two more hours really looking, reading, and taking in everything.   All in all, a really wonderful way to spend a Saturday.