The One with Snappy Pappy's Birthday

(Disclaimer: "Pappy" refers to my Dad, not to be confused with my granfather who was named Grampy. Blame my love for creating nicknames for people... when I was 16, I deemed my father "Pappy" and it stuck.)

Today is Pappy's 59th birthday. One year til I officially deem him an old man. I consider myself among a small privileged percentage of the American population who has an amazing father figure in my life. Pappy is your typical engineer- logical, straight foward, hardworking, loyal, and reliabl. Here are some things that you may not know about him:

-Though you might not see it at first, Pappy has a HUGE sense of humor and can't resist a good pracical joke. One of his favorites when I was in high school and would be grumpily getting ready in the morning was to sneak up behind me when my hands were occupied with fixing my hair and jab me in my tickelish sides. His 2nd favorite was honking while I was trying to non-chalantly get out of his scary, ugly work car so that everyone in front of the high school would turn and look at me.

-Pappy can fix anything.

-Pappy is a great square dancer.

-Pappy has volunteered and served with the organization Mercy Ships for 18 years. He and my mom have taught me the importance of being awae of what is happening in the world, generosity, and dedication.

-Pappy had several key phrases over the years. Some were full of wisdom like, "If momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy," and "Loose Lips Sink Ships." When we were pouting or in a bad mood we got, "Don't smile it may break your face," which was always annoying because it really is impossible to hold your mad face after that. And finally the one that is complete nonesense, but somehow when Pappy would pull out the trusty, "How now brown cow," we mysteriously always knew the point he was getting across.

-Here's the truly secret thing about Pappy- I believe that he is a closet hopeless romantic. He would probably neer admit it, but as a fellow hopeless romantic, I can spot it a mile away. : ) I have some great stories t prove it as well!

-Pappy only has one eyebrow. AND he has to get that bad boy trimmed often! He put's Burt's unibrow to shame.

And to end this post: here is a pic of Pappy with the President of Liberia. How cool is that!?!? Happy Birthday Snappy Pappy!