5 years…

On this day, 5 years ago, my life changed. Actually, it changed many peoples lives. It was the day my dad died. I was 20 years old. I can still vividly remember that day, and like today it was a Thursday. But I will share with you some about my dad. He was born in Ohio and moved to Tulare when he was in Jr. High. In 1980 he married my mom and in 1982 they had me, followed by my brother in 1984 and my sister in 1992. Dad was always very involved with our lives, whether it be school, or working on cars, or carting us around he was always there. I remember when he used to work graveyard shifts and my brother and I would wait at the end of the street for him to come home in the morning and he would coast the car the 6 or so houses away that we lived and we used to race him home. We always thought that we were so fast because we would beat the car, well I did that same drive down the same street a few years back and the car goes soooo slow LOL but we were kids and thought that we were great! Or when we would go on the over pass on Paige and he would left of the breaks and we would coast down the hill…again GREAT! Or there was the Easter Sunday that we left my Grandparents house and he made me drive on the freeway! It was the first time I ever drove on the freeway and he told me I had to learn sometime. I know he had to think too that if I killed us, at least we were dressed up nice! I am also honored to have his first name as my middle name. Adam Douglas…

There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about him. I have seen our whole family change in the past five years and I think this has brought us together closer. I live in Atlanta now, my brother lives in Fullerton, Mom and my sister still live in Tulare, but I know that at any given time we are close. I know he is watching us all and is with us always!

I love you dad!