I have been trying to think of one special story to share about my dad but there have been too many.  Therefore, I have decided to talked about 2 things that dad loved most in this world...gambling and babies!

Twelve and a half years ago I found out that I was pregnant with Antonio.  Dad was sooo excited.  When we talked about it, we decided that we should take a trip to Laughlin, NV (before parenthood made it impossible for me to get away).  So for the first time, dad and I went on our own special gambling trip.  While we were in Laughlin, he was so excited at the prospect of a grandchild that he told every person we came in contact with!  It was a little embarrassing when he would tell people " This is my daughter...she gonna have a baby!!!"  Dad was never known to have a really quiet voice, so news traveled around the casino pretty quickly and eventually I had strangers approach me asking if I was the one having the baby. I have several ask if this was dad's first grandchild and when I told them that he had a whole bunch they were amazed he got so wound up about it.  That didn't amaze me.  I think the only thing in this world that made him prouder than being a father to 5 children was being a grandpa of 13!  Of course, if you have ever been gambling with my Daddy, you know I came home from that trip with bruises on my arms from those bony fingers that would grab you when he was excited about something!

After Antonio was born, grandpa was always there.  I remember sitting down in Grandpa's recliner to give the baby a bottle and Grandpa would come in (with those long legs it always looked like he was running), snatch Antonio out of my arms (with some comment about my lack of skill), tell me to move and settle himself comfortably in the chair with his grandson on his lap.  He was the only one who could stop the boy from squirming by wrapping Antonio up in his long arms and holding down his arms and legs.  He made it seem so easy!  Then he would tell me to lay down and rest (he was always telling me to do that).  I would lay down on the couch next to them and Dad would start to hum that tuneless tune.  It was a hum that emanated from deep in his chest.  As he would hum, Antonio would settle down and I would lay there and feel such contentment that I could let go of my worries because I knew that, wrapping in those arms of love, my son would never come to any harm.

Five years after my son was born, Dad and I decided we needed another trip to Laughlin (with the understanding that our time together was getting short).  So we planned our trip.  Right before we left on that trip I had the pleasure of informing him that he was gonna be a grandpa AGAIN!  You can only imagine how that trip to Laughlin went.  

When baby Samantha was born, again Grandpa was there.  He held her, fed her, comforted her and hummed his tuneless tune.  A few months after Sam was born, I had a kidney removed.  I stayed at mom and dad's house to recover a bit before going home.  They took care of my little baby for me and of course told me to rest.  I would again lay on the couch and listen to Dad hum to Sam like he hummed to Antonio.  It was the sound of peace and contentment.  He hummed like he was fulfilling his life's purpose.

I was sad when dad's health got bad enough that he could not hum anymore.  And then something was brought to my attention.  I took Samantha with me to work one day when she was 5.  Then next day as I was sitting in my office, a co-worker walked by and said, "Now I know where she gets it".  I was confused.  She mentioned that I was humming (I didn't even notice).  And then she proceeded to tell me that Samantha had been humming the day before when she was with me.  She had noticed it several times that day.  It was the tuneless tune.  I can not replicate it when I want to, it only comes when not focused on.  When in that moment of peace and contentment with life.  Since then, I have heard Samantha hum it several time and it brings joy to  my heart.  Although we may be saddened by the idea that we will never hear his voice again, close your eyes, find your peace and you will hear dad humming that tuneless tune just for you.  

By the way, after Samanatha was born I informed Dad that we could not go to Laughlin again because I refused to have any more children!  He just laughed.  Three years later, he tried to talk me into another trip to Laughlin, I repeated myself, saying "Everytime we have gone to Laughlin, I'm preganant".  His simple answer was "I know....we need some more babies around here".