Babalar Günü Kutlu Olsun! Happy Father’s Day!

It’s Father’s Day in many parts of the world today.  Both Turkey and the United States celebrate it on the third Sunday in June every year.  (The Germans do it earlier.)  It’s a day to be thankful for and celebrate our fathers.

I lost my father suddenly while I was a law student.  I believe it was 1992.  My Dad was always so proud of me.  Yes, I was his little princess.  I only toured one university as I already had it in my head that I wold go there.  He came along for the tour – which was not something my father would typically be interested in doing.  He had an incredible smile that day.  The only time I saw him smile bigger was on my graduation day from St. Joe’s U.  Well, that’s not quite true, he had that same huge grin on the wedding days of my sisters, Amy, Eileen, Patti, Dolores, and Mary.

Pop never got to walk me down the aisle or attend my graduation was from law school.  In the last few years of his short life, I got to know him a little better.  I took up freshwater fishing, his favorite past time.  I came home on my lunch breaks to cook for him.  We would discuss the possibility of a TV show, where we would fish and then I would cook the fish.

I was only 26 when he passed, but I never felt cheated.  It was OK.  I spent his last three nights holding his hand.  Just me and him.  And for those moments, I am eternally grateful.

Almost 20 years later, I married, without my father.  We eventually moved to Turkey and I realized I had another father, and not just in words.  My father-in-law and I never had a chance to sit down and have real conversations.  My Turkish skills prevented that.  But that man was truly proud to have me as his daughter. He did not judge my American ways.  He did not complain about anything.  He ate everything I cooked and always asked for more.  He taught me to cook fish (heads, skin and all) and I taught him how to make it taste even better.  He loved me as my own father had.

Today I wish both of my fathers a Happy Father’s Day!  May they spend the day fishing in heavenly waters today and have some one cook a nice and tasty fish dinner for them!

I also with my brothers, nephews, and all of my friends, family members and readers a Happy Father’s Day!