Happy Father's Day...Missing My Dad

While people immediately acknowledge the importance of the father-son relationship, many forget that the father-daughter relationship is equally important.

Daddy is the very first man in our lives, and whether you realize it or not, you will secretly judge and compare every other man in your life to him.

Recently, my sister mentioned how strange it is for us to understand how some men absent themselves from their daughter’s lives, or because their child is a girl, they don’t teach them the same things they would a son.

Our Dad never once thought, “I won’t teach them ‘this or that’ because they are girls. Instead, he encouraged us to try out for “male-dominated” sports as well as the usual ones for girls. He also taught us to think for ourselves, to stand up for what we believe in, speak our minds, and to not take crap from anybody.

My sisters and I learned how to play golf, tennis, baseball, and basketball from my dad. We also learned how to prepare and paint drywall, hammer a nail, fix a clogged sink, catch, gut, and fillet our own fish.

He was this larger than life figure to me. Colorful stories about him running moonshine as a teenager in the back hills of Kentucky were spun at family reunions, which he'd deny, then wink at us and grin.

Dad was part of the greatest generation, having fought in WWII as a ball turret gunner. He raced NASCAR in the 50′s, owned thoroughbred racehorses, played poker (before it became a TV spectator sport) and dressed like a member of the original rat pack. He also sang off-key and liked to hold hands with mum in the moonlight.

Hard for any man to match up after all that. Poor Bear. Dad always called him “Meathead.” ::grins:: I still can recall my guy sitting in Dad’s favorite chair soon after they met the first time, and the house going very silent. LOL.

Sadly, Dad passed away almost a decade ago. And although we all miss him still, we know that the things he taught us helped us to become strong and independent women. To not be afraid to say what is on our minds or in our hearts.

To those who still have your fathers, give them a call today and tell them how much they meant to you. I promise it’s a much better present that a tie.

To those who, like me, have memories of their dad, spend a minute or two today and pick up an old photo album and smile. Because I know this to be true: whatsoever, and whomsoever we loved in life, lives forever.

If you are a father, cherish your daughters as well as your sons and let them know you care. Be their protector, but also show them how to protect themselves, pass on your knowledge and wisdom learned through trial and error, teach them what is important, but let them make their own decisions. Catch them when they fall, because they will from time to time, and most of all, tell them how much you love them, because we never know how long we have to live in this life and most of us don't get second chances.

Upcoming Non-Fiction

Sex & Love for Grownups : A No-Nonsense Guide to a Life of Passion
by Sallie Foley

Paperback: 160 pages, List Price:$7.95
Publisher: (AARP) Sterling;
Release date: (August 28, 2006)
ISBN: 1402740751

Written by Sallie Foley, the “Modern Love” columnist for AARP’s 22-million-subscriber lifestyle magazine, Sex & Love for Grownups offers candid insights on the romance and relationship issues uppermost in the minds of mature adults.

Now the most poignant and provocative questions sent to AARP The Magazine’s “Modern Love” column have been collected—and answered—in a new book, Sex & Love for Grownups, that reveals everything you always wanted to know about sex, love, and relationships at age 40 and beyond.

With recent behavioral surveys showing that healthy Americans stay sexually active into their 70s and up, this is the perfect forum to find out what others are thinking and doing about finding a new partner, making love, and making love last.

Some of the questioned answered in the book are:

Q: My husband wants me to talk dirty to him. Is there a book I can learn from?

Q: Our kids just left for college, and it’s created a stillness between my husband and me. How can we reconnect?

Q: My wife and I are in our 50s, and we have sex once a week, but it’s not enough for me. Is this normal?

Hmm, they never seem to ask the real burning questions, like:

Q: My husband keeps falling asleep during sex. Is now a good time to use a cattle prod? LOL

Q: I’ve been waiting for hubby to fix the toilet in the kids’ bathroom, but he never has time. But somehow, he did have time last week to fix our new sexy 20-something neighbor’s sink. Does this situation call for a cattle prod? :p

And finally,
Q: My husband suggested we try mock dating to spice up our sex life. He doesn’t call the next day or leave a message and he didn’t come home last weekend. He’s dating all right–just not me? NOW can I use the cattle prod?

Sex With Salsa

My college pal and long time friend Jan, emailed me last night with a question. Would salsa burn the skin? Huh? Was she going to pop it in the microwave first or something?

No, she said she just wondered because her current studly liked to do body shots with the hot blend of salsa.

Well, I know that some chile peppers contain more “heat” and the juice and seeds can irritate and even blister the skin if kept in direct contact—but would the salsa? I just didn’t know. I suggested she coax him to try a milder version.

Then I told her if she gave it a try, I wanted all the details! LOL

I just know that somehow this will end up in one of my stories.
Don’t you just love adventurous friends? ;-)

*Update* Jan spilled some of the details later that week, which I won't repost on this blog, but the advice she gave was to do a skin test first and make sure you're not going to get a reaction you don't want.  Eeps! Also, about four months after dating her sexy salsa king, they broke up. In the intervening years I've tried to play matchmaker, with no luck. Finally, in 2010, she met the man of her dreams and they've been dating ever since. Congrats, Jan. Wishing you the best as always.

Love,
Cass