Dear Daddy,
I found your wallet today, the one you were always misplacing whether you were at home on Brentwood Drive, Milan, or at Morning Pointe, your last residence, there in Chattanooga with my sister Valerie not too far away. Guess I’d misplaced it this time, forgetting that I had tucked it away in my L.L. Bean Boat Bag, the repository of all my treasured “Must Keeps.”
Holding your wallet feels like holding your hands, wrinkled and worn but amazingly soft and tender, despite the decades of hard work. Those hands skillfully filed saws for our livelihood, built beautiful cherry wood tables for our delight, sewed sequins on Val’s majorette uniforms, pushed lawn mowers, pushed us high in our swings, pushed us off on our first bike rides, pushed us off into the arms of our husbands-to-be, pulled us close when we needed a h
“Hold our hands, Daddy.” That’s what we whispered two years ago as you lay in your hospice bed. Hold on tight! But you couldn’t. Your fingers, interlaced with ours, slowly loosened their grip. Your fingernails scraped across the crisp white sheets before you jerked your hands high into the air, seemingly surprised that it was time to go.
But I found you again. Your driver’s license photo looked up at me from your brown trifold. Tucked inside were six $1.00 bills, ready for you to spend on strawberry pie and coffee at Perkins. For an instant, you were with me. The touch of the wallet quickened my soul with your essence, making my heart smile.
You knew I was sad, didn’t you Daddy? Once again your hands were there to comfort me and pull me close when I needed love.
Thank you,
Phyl
Glade Road Living 
I loved this, Phyllis! What a treasure of a memory, and you captured it perfectly. You’re a excellent writer!
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Amy, thank you so for those kind words. I so appreciate you and all you and Wick did for Daddy. Much love to you!
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I loved this.. it brought a tear to my eyes and a smile to my heart. I think of him often and the things he made for me. Of course, I see him sitting at his kitchen table every time I go over to Amybeth’s. My favorite place is in the sunroom he made out of our screened in porch! We loved Ray and Helen and miss them!❤️
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Thank you so much. He and mother thought the world of you and Jack! Much love!
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Phyllis, I loved what you wrote about your Daddy, and his wallet. You are a great writer. Both of your parents were always so kind to me, and it mattered most after I had lost my parents. It is a sad day, when parents are gone. Love to you, Frankie Woody Shoaf
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Frankie, you made my heart smile with those words about Mother and Daddy. I know Mother spoke often about your mother and father. They were kind people, and it is sad that our parents are gone. I appreciate also your comments about my writing. Writing helps me figure out life. Be well and much love to you.
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Hi Phyllis. This was absolutely so special. It made me feel like I knew your Father. I still miss you and John..Tell him hi for me. Norma
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Thank you Norma for reading and for such a wonderful comment. We miss you and are ready for lunch when you feel comfortable. Much love❤️
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