Sunday, February 15, 2015

Happy Birthday to my Chocolate Drop...


February 15, 1977...
  How time flies, fortunately we have cameras to freeze a moment in time so we can look back and reminisce. I looked back and this is what I saw...

 a few days home from the hospital in the arms of your first visitors. Linda, with her husband behind the camera.



















I saw your first birthday, complete with a sheet on the floor to catch any and all crumbs from your cake...


















I saw your fourth birthday anniversary celebrated at The Big Yellow House. You had graduated to the table but not to
silverware.




On Christmas day I saw a measuring to see how much you, Mikel and Jai had grown from the last year...

















Mr. Bill came along a couple of Christmas's before this picture was taken. Opening the box he came in you exclaimed "a fur coat!". He has and continues to serve you well, as we shall see.


(Melissa, Mr. Bill and Cabbage Patch)
Before you took your present job at the Humanitarian Center of Excellence in Disaster Management and Assistance you worked in sales...while your mother and I were at work, the entrepreneur bug had bitten your brothers and they sent you curbside to man the Kool-Aid stand in front of our home...


(What I saw as I pulled into the driveway)


Food and animals were always dear to your heart, in you I see a wonderful cook and animal lover...

(Homemade Halloween costumes and preparing breakfast)

(Bentley, Gretchen. neighbors and Homer)

















You have always held education high on your list of  'things to do'...

  I saw your first day of school...

(Jennifer and Melissa on their way to Allen Ave. elementary)















high school brought out Miss Personality in you as I watched you participate in track, student government, three years of prom nights and voted a real princess at homecoming...
                                                 


                  I saw your high school graduation from the tip of my pen.

                                                                                   
















On to college...




a tearful goodbye as we left our Choc-Drop in Atlanta...

not totally alone, Mr. Bill to the rescue, a old friend in the dorm.












College included a semester in Paris, giving Mom and I a place to visit and see you...
                                                                           
(Luxembourg Park in Paris)
(Melissa in Venice)
  traipsing all over Europe at Spring vacation (where you couldn't be seen nor did we hear about it until years later) included a stop off in Venice...















 I saw you graduate from Spelman...and years later while taking chemo and radiation treatments, obtaining a Masters Degree from the University of Oklahoma. I am not amazed to see anything you set your mind to do.














Transportation through the years...

I saw you pushed around Disneyland in a stroller...


chauffeured Mom around Tomorrowland in a red car and
took the red car to work at Disney Studio to a job in post production and other departments.

  I saw you take a trial run down the aisle, preparing for the real thing...
















years later I proudly walked you down the aisle to the real thing...


      and to the real man, Johann.




                 I have been...
                                     

                                                                                  and will always be...















there for you to lean on.



Happy Birthday My Chocolate Drop
Love, Dad

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