My Pops

is the best daddy I know.  I know everyone says that about their dad (especially on Father's Day), but really, he's great.  I remember when I was a little girl, my favorite part of the day was when my dad came home.  I'd get so excited when I heard the door open, and I'd always run into his arms so he could scoop me up into a great big bear hug.  One time, he came home and I somehow miscalculated where he was standing, so instead of running into his arms, I ran into the corner of the wall.  Yeah, I had to get stitches.  Awesome.

I've always been told I have a great sense of humour.  That's definitely my dad's doing (and my mom's too).  My family loves to laugh.  But my dad has the best laugh of all of us.  When he thinks something is really funny...well I can't even describe it, but he almost starts crying.  And you know when you get that laugh, you've hit the jackpot of humour.  But I wouldn't know a joke if it danced naked in front of me without my dad's help.  Some of my dad's finer moments:
"Dad, we don't have any friends!!"
"Maybe that's because you guys are LOSAHS!!"

Bringing home a fart machine and hiding it under my chair during dinner.

Teaching my little brother, Ti, how to go cross-eyed when he was still a baby.

(After my brother caught the garter at my wedding.)
"That's the only thing he's ever caught in his life!!"

Always the southern gentleman, my father really does have a deep and abiding respect for those around him, and patience like you wouldn't believe.  He's an excellent example of a peacemaker, and always tries to cheer you up when you're feeling down...even if his efforts to cheer you up come in the form of teasing.  I've always tried to emulate him in that respect--in trying to see the best in people, and not losing my temper too quickly.

Like all dads, he never misses an opportunity for a life lesson, which I always managed to get when we were driving alone in a car.  Sometimes, they were frustrating, but they were always enlightening.  And even though my father once accused me of being a loser, he always was ready with a compliment for me.  So when I was down in the dumps, I always knew that my daddy thought I was the most beautiful, smartest girl in the world (a tie with my sister, of course  =]).

Most importantly, it's from my dad that I inherited my southern charm (ok, half my mom's side is southern, but my dad is alllll southern.)  I learned to appreciate the little things and to take things at a slower pace than the rest of the world, so as to better enjoy life.

So thanks Daddy, for being a huge influence for good in my life, for helping me to see the best in myself, and for always being ready with a laugh.

Love from your laddle gurl/Rashley/Princess Poot-root/Wo-wo.