pops.

BIG POPPY | barry, my dad, joke-teller, picture-hanger, tech junkie, THE BEST. 

SWEETHEART!  you know on that show, inside the actor’s studio, when james lipton asks the same 10 questions at the end of each interview? question #5 is “what sound do you love?” and for me, the answer would be, my dad saying, SWEETHEART! it’s his standard greeting when i call or he calls, and after 37 years of this, it feels like a blanket of home and comfort and security each and every time. it’s full of love and pride and he lingers on the “heeaart” part a bit, and i want to bottle up that voice and that one little word and carry it with me forever.

we lived with my dad for most of my childhood, which back in the 80’s was a complete rarity. this man did carpool and ponytails and birthday parties. he did bedtime and nightmares and science fair projects. he celebrated good grades (we got $1 per A, which i never hesitate to tell him was the biggest rip off EVER) and took me to my very first broadway show (“a chorus line”). because of barry i love travel, new york, singing out loud to the les miserables soundtrack and grape nuts. also because of barry i am incapable of hanging a picture, as he was always on call to do this for me. he is measure twice, cut once and it’s better to light a candle than curse the darkness. i love this guy.

it wasn’t perfect, always. but we did our best and he did his best, and really, isn’t that all we can do? and his best was beyond. his best helped make me confident, capable, with high expectations of myself. his best helped me love big and loud, because he loves big and loud. SWEETHEART!

poppy. i’m sending you the biggest hug ever, and wishing you the best birthday and father’s day. i wish i was there. thank you for being you, for making me laugh, for laughing at my jokes, and for always believing in my crazy dreams. for supporting new york and germany, even when you wanted to say STAY and DON’T GO. for loving the girls as much as you do, and for loving me and wen. thank you for tuna trains and summers in lake tahoe and for every “i love you” that built me up and made me believe i deserve it.