without acknowledging my father’s birthday. When I came across this pastoral landscape accented by light falling on a distant mountain, it struck me that it was the kind of scenery he would have loved to have painted. I can almost see him slathering color upon the mountains with his palette knife and scratching detail into the hay bales in the foreground with a stiff, tapered brush.
My father’s been gone for almost twenty years but the memories linger. He wasn’t the perfect father but I always knew that he loved me and he knew that I loved him. I’d give almost anything to share with him what my life’s like now.
Love is imperfect, but that’s as it should be. It lives in darkness and light—touching some for a day and others for a lifetime—a gift, not a right. If you love someone, tell them today, in case tomorrow never comes.
Happy birthday, Dad!
it's (almost always) about the water... 
Wise, meaningful words.Well put. He would be very proud of you and your accomplishments and he would love and respect Sonny, as I do. Thank you for sharing your thoughts about him, on his special day.
A luminous landscape, and loving thoughts to match. How he would have loved to see you so happy now! He was a lucky man to have you as a daughter, too.