Elizabeth

Happy, Happy Birthday, Dad! You don’t look a day over 60 :)

From your classroom at Barksdale ES to your classroom at Wake Forest ES, and from your office at Shoal Creek ES to your office at St. Simons ES, I have first hand memories and second hand stories.

As a first grader, I had a year filled with envy that so many friends had you as their teacher. Ms. Gamble was great, but she was not you and her classroom was not your classroom. And your tooth pulling skills? Infamous. Everyone knew the “cool” teacher and his fun, creative classroom…and his way of making losing a tooth exciting!

Outside the classroom, it takes a bit of magic to make schooling over the summer fun, as you did for Catherine and me, and learning cursive before our classmates had to…I am complimented often on my handwriting and I smile each time as I credit you - my father, a teacher….my teacher.

The lessons I have learned from you through the years are numerous. The biggest one? Family is everything. From your obvious love and adoration for Mom, and the partnership with her for over 50 years, to all the times you showed up, unfaltering, for me, Catherine, Michael and our girls. You show up. Every. Time. Another lesson I have learned from you is to find humor even in the most heartbreaking moments - your laughter has been a salve more times than I can count and it is a constant on the soundtrack of my life. (It’s right up there with other greatest hits, “Fill your gas tank when it’s halfway. Check your oil. Watch out for deer.”) Teaching me how to love and how to laugh have taught me how to live a full life. Thank you.

You are my favorite teacher, there is no one else like you, and I am honored to be your daughter.

Looking forward to being with you on your next adventure around the sun…we have so many more first hand memories to make and second hand stories to share.

Love you!