Happy Birthday Poppy.

Today would have been my Dad's 70th Birthday.

The world lost a very good man too soon.

I was lucky enough to be his only child and got to enjoy:

 His warm singing voice and sweet guitar strumming,

His ability to write just what you needed to hear in a letter,

His hand on his belly deep down laugh,

His horrid "hobo hash" dinners when mom was out of town

(every can of beans in the cupboard thrown in a pot with salt),

And reversely His amazing Sunday waffles and fried eggs,

His weekend adventure drives to the sea to see if it was still there,

His "let's wait for the light to change" roadside photographic moments,

His father-daughter trips to ghost towns and islands with tandem bikes,

His true love of my Mom, His fierce protection of her, His family hug 'em ups,

His ability to admit mistakes and let them make him a better man,

His deep generosity of spirit, His open heart, His big bear hugs,

And His total love, which I never once questioned.

Judson Eugene Allen, you were a good good man.

Thank you for all that you were, all that you did,

the world is a better place for having had you in it.

happy yellow.

My dad had a silly pair of glasses that he called his Happy Glasses.

They were just yellow lenses, maybe for fog?

All I know is that he would put them on while driving,

and sway back and forth like Ray Charles

tickling out a great piano tune.

We would laugh and laugh.

Sometimes I think fall is like those yellow tinted frames.

Everything explodes with yellow glee, 

and I can't help but thinking

"It's alright."

Poppy's Day.

Today is Dead Dad Day number 11.

But, I was so amazingly lucky to have a fantastic father,

that today I just like to remember what a

wonderful, funny, silly, kind, caring,

warm and creative man he was.

I wish everyone got to have a Dad as fantastic as mine.

He is missed and loved deeply by all who knew him,

especially me.

Love you Poppy.

Poppies.

I just love poppies.

I love that they are vibrant and orange and red.

I love that they open and close

as the morning comes and the evening goes.

I love that they remind me of my dad,

whom I called Poppy.

Who came and went too soon.

Remembering him.

Today was my Dad's Birthday. I like to remember him on this day,

and think about all the happiness, joy, beauty, laughter,

and adventure he brought into my life.

I am so grateful to have had such a terrific father,

even if for too short a time.

My parents grew Zinnias each year in front of our

old dilapidated greenhouse.

It was something colorful and spectacular to watch.

This image of me was taken around the time my father died.

I hope where ever he is filled with Zinnias,

Cosmos and Rainbow Chard.

I hope there are tomatoes growing big and red in the warm sun,

I hope there are oceans to be found,

and the perfect golden light for pictures to be taken.

"Far in the plots, I see him dig,

Old and serious, brown and big."

-Robert Louis Stevenson