Happy Father's Day!

Today is one of those days that, in my opinion, should be celebrated everyday.
I remember as a little girl, my Father would pick me up and put me on his shoulders, and our entire family would take walks through Golden Gate Park, in San Francisco, and I could touch the tree branches.
I thought to myself, "My Daddy is as tall as the trees!"
My Father use to say, "You're the apple of my eye!"
My matrilineal Grandfather would pick me up, kiss me on my forehead and always said,,
"Baby Doll, I love you!"
Those very words from the two men that I knew as my rock, my tall tree = my super-heroes still warm my heart today.
My father, Albert, and Grandfather, Stokes, made a world of difference in my life.
Both men told me that I was born at the right time.
My Father said, "You were planned and you were wanted!" He would say,
"I now have a son and a daughter!"

Baby Doll
(Beth Strong Photography, LA,CA)

I was the first Granddaughter. I remember the earliest reflections of my Grandfather.
I must have been around 18 months old, and he was sitting on the couch and I jumped off of the couch and was running around, and my Mother was trying to take a photo of both of us. My Mother picked me up and sat me down next to my Grandfather, and I was so tickled! I laughed so hard, and my heart felt so full of love!
I ran across that photo, and I told my Mother that I remembered that day. She said, "What did you remember?" I said, "I remember what you had on that day, what Grandfather had on that day, and the lay out of the house."
 My Mother was amazed. She said, "You must have remembered that, because we've never discussed it, and your Grandparents moved out of that house before you turned 2 years old!"  I had to remember those moments in my early childhood. Those wonderful childhood memories have comforted me, even carried me through some difficult times over the years.

Both men have laid down with my Ancestors many years ago.
My Dad passed exactly one week after 9/11 - 9.18.11.
My Grandfather passed 1.20.'83.

But to me?
They're in my heart (figuratively- and DNA(literally.)

So for me, everyday is Father's Day!....Enjoy!

#BethStrongPhotography #Father #Grandfather #BabyGirl #AppleofmyEye #Family #Love #TeamBH