What would you like all fathers to know?

Oh what the heck, it's about time I proclaim the virtues of fatherhood in all men.  And if I'm going to lose some credit over that,  so be it...

Warning: Proceed with caution.  Mushiness detected ahead...

For the one who's no longer here.   These moments come to me all the time...not sure which one came first...but I recalled sitting on my father's shoulders while he fetched me across muddy puddles...and lifting me up high to pick a fruit or a celestial flower...

Once during Holy season, the fever to soak each other from head to toes and then doused them with colorful dust afterward was rampant.... and me not understanding this madness began crying at the top of my lungs and Daddy giving up his protective cover to come rescue me and hide me behind the door.

However, it wasn't all about protection or bringing me the brightest star or the sweetest fruit... there were times when Dad made me feel as beautiful as a flower... the earliest memory was when Mom outfitted me with the cutest, seer-suckers flounce dress of sky blue hue...and me wandering over to Dad who was busy pouring gasoline into his engine's tank...and me interrupting him from his height of concentration...to ask, "Daddy? Am I going to be the prettiest person at the wedding? "  And Daddy neglecting his task to swing me up high with laughter in his voice. "Yes, my baby, no one could ever be as pretty as you." 

And from that day to now...this is why I'll always be a daddy's girl...in fact, I refused to grow up....   in fact...I'm everything today because once upon a time, I was Daddy's little girl...

Sweetest of fathers, did you ever know?  

You were my Suraj, my Sun, my Brahma, the one who created me, my Vishnu, the preserver of me and Shiva, the one who facilitated but only when absolutely necessary, the death of me so I could take new birth...

However, it's the Vishnu, the preserver in you that I cherish the most.   The one who maintained me with fatherly love...the one who protected and cared for me.  You are the most compassionate person I've ever known....

And Dad, you were not the only one who gave me fatherly love...there are so many more...and today I would like to shine my love on the preserver within all men...The Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva...that godlike fatherly sweetness that exists in some form or the other all over my universe...

First I would like to say thanks to the creator God of Zaadz/Gaia...without your amazing creation, I would not be able to splurge my thoughts here...you've done a phenomenal thing, o lord of a virtual universe ...so happy father's day to you...

For my brothers...I love you too.....(Remember this?)  .....thanks for protecting me through the years...for washing my muddy princess feet with the last remaining drops of precious water...for braving sweltering jungles to bring me wild fruits and berries, for climbing coconut trees for that one elusive coconut, for buying me my first typewriter, for scaring away all the annoying boys...and so much more...

For my life partner, the one who nurtures me from the top of my head to the tips of each toe, without the protective and love filled warmth of your arms, I would be a witchy, bitchy wretch and unable to write one soft word of thanks here today...

For my son..."Chanda hai tu, mere Suraj hai tu..."   Sweet sparkle of my eyes, thanks for watching out for me.... yes, I've noticed the little father within you ever since you were knee high to a flower...and there's one incident that stands out...of me being attacked by a whole litter of barking puppies and you throwing yourself in their path with your, "You guys better not hurt my mom or I'll fix all of you." And so often, your reassuring words.  "Don't worry, Mom, I'll never ever let anyone hurt you."   
          
You are the one who made me realized that all men were at some point somebody's baby...that these very same men who nurture and protect need nurturing and protection too...

To my Grandfathers, uncles, teachers, in-laws, boss, friends, strangers...Happy Father's Day.

For all of you fathers and fathers-to-be on Gaia...and all over the world...Happy Father's Day.

a deep bow...and a bunch of fresh flowers too

Amy :-)