Wednesday, June 18, 2008

My Hero

I'm a little late posting this, but oh well! I made this card last weekend for my Dad for Father's Day. I used Jen del Muro's Sketch for You To Try (visit her awesome blog here) with paper from Basic Grey's Archaic Collection. Stamps are from Paper Trey Ink's Father Knows Best set stamped with Chocolate Chip and Certainly Celery ink. I also used Chocolate Chip and Almost Artichoke CS and a strip of Chocolate Chip poly twill ribbon for some texture. The edges of the stamped images were sponged with Chocolate Chip ink (I need a little practice on my sponging). As most of you know, my Dad has Alzheimer's. He's only 57 years old and sadly the disease seems to be progressing much faster than we'd like. This Father's Day was especially hard for me... my Dad has always been so appreciative of the crappy gifts I give him but this year he just didn't seem to care or even be aware that it was Father's Day. It's hard to face the fact that we're getting to that stage of the disease. My Dad truly is my hero. He has always been the kindest, gentlest man I know and although many aspects of his personality are changing before my eyes I still see that kind, gentle man when I look at my Dad. The hardest part about dealing with this disease is the fear that as he forgets who he is, I might also forget the wonderful man and father he has always been to me. I worry that once he's gone I will remember him how he is now instead of the amazing man who raised me. On the bad days when he is at his most difficult (and oooohhh, can he be difficult), I pull out my scrapbooks and childhood pictures and am instantly reminded of the man he once was and deep down still is. And it's come to the point when making him a Father's Day Card is more for myself than for him. And that's OK.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

this is a wonderful card! i just got this set and can't wait to play! hugs-jd