“Biz”

"Della Bella Boo, I see you, hiding behind the chair.. Della Bella Boo, I see you, I see you hiding there!" My dad would sing to me as I peeked at him from behind a chair. 

He was witty, smart, a professional guitarist-- once on the cover of "Down Beat Magazine."

He was a WW2 Veteran as well as in the Korean War. His personal losses rarely shared, he was kind to strangers.

He was an electrical engineer and a construction manager with a work ethic like clockwork.

He was a friend who could always be counted on during hard times saying, "It's going to be alright."

Later in life, the man looked like Burl Ives. He cooked better than any chef I know. I can make an awesome gravy now. 

He played at least five instruments. His passion was music.

He taught me to sing and develop my own style. We recorded reel to reel when I was ten. I didn't mind the pain of his five o'clock shadow on my little girl skin when he held me tight and kissed me when he came home from work.

Later, he backed my performance of "You Made Me Love You" with his Gibson guitar. My first standing ovation.

He paid me .25 cents to rub his feet as I sat at the end of the couch. I felt appreciated and loved my dad. Looking back, he must have really appreciated me.

His jokes were knee slappers.

Now he leaves me pennies. I found a shiny new one today. He tells me "Thank You" for taking care of mom. 

I can't wait to see him outside of my dreams again. 

He took no shit and never dished any out.

The Man, The Myth, The Legend..Dad.