Grapefruit Juice and Snickers Bars

The breakfast of champions, well maybe not, but the breakfast choice of Duane. When Duane and I first met he was a freshmen at OSU and had the cutest behind on the planet. We spent every waking hour together, sometimes starting the day really early. So when I discovered his choice breakfast did I run for the hills, nah. I tasted the combo of a Snickers bar and a bottle of grapefruit juice, thought he was strangely adorable and melted even more for the taste- challenged fellow. Who would ever have thought of such a combo.

Later on maybe the combo of Snickers and grapefruit juice together faded, but the love for either one never did. The Snickers bar did evolve into Snickers with almonds, but grapefruit juice always remained the same. His love for grapefruit juice has now passed on to Ben, who I do believe someday will have ulcers because of the mass quantities he drinks.

Everyone!

Daddy loved EVERYONE! Will Rogers once said "I never met a man I didn't like.", well that was Dad. Always the first to say hello. He wanted to love and be loved by all he knew.

Let's start with Grace. Daddy loved Grace, and why? Gracie says "Daddy loves me because I love him!" Yes Grace, you are so right. Daddy knew how much you loved him, you filled a very special spot in his heart, the "Grace" spot.
Ben, the constant comic, says, "Dad loved how funny I was.". It's never too heavy in a room that Ben occupies, so yes Ben, Daddy loved how funny you were and laughs even now at some of the silly things you do.

Emma will always be Daddy's baby girl, and oh, how Daddy loved babies. Emma, Daddy loved to hold, rock and cuddle you, "That is Daddy!" says Emma.

"Because he's my Dad." Oh Jack, how simple it really is, Dad loved you because he was YOUR Dad! What a gift to be a dad and your dad knew that, he treasured that.

Katie, the peter pan of the Summers clan, knew that Daddy loved her because "I was his little girl and I made him smile." No one really ever grows up and stops being daddy's little girl, your right Katie you were always his little girl and forever will be, especially with those freckles.

Two peas in pod, Molly and Daddy, especially when it came to the love of the theater. "Daddy loved to work backstage with me at recitals and at the Nutcracker.", you'll never know Molly just how much your Daddy loved to be backstage with you. His heart was full sharing that passion with one of his children.

So as I'm asking Hannah to tell me why Daddy loved her, she came running in with a BIG knife!! Yes Hannah that sums it all up, why did Daddy love you so much, spontaneity, hilarity, craziness, Hannah-nannaness. YOU!

From the moment he knew we would be together forever, my love Never treated me anything less than the jewel that he thought I was. No woman, in my opinion, could have ever felt more loved, desired, and adored. He loved ME! I was the key to his heart, his happiness, his world.

He loved his brother. He kept him on his toes and kept him challenged. The children would love to hear stories of Uncle Darrell and Daddy's chess matches, or how they got certain games banished for life.

The first time Duane met his potential grandparents-in-law he wanted to be just like them. He loved the example they set of activity, endurance, bravery, and marital companionship. They became his grandparents, not just mine.

Megan was his little baby sister, maybe not by blood but definitely by heart. Oh how he loved to tease and torment that little punk. He loved Megan's passion and only wanted the best for his little sis. Ben he knew would take care of his Megan, he always wanted to make him feel like a instant part of the family.

Not your normal in-law relationship. Duane was a lucky man to have two sets of parents, he loved and respected my mom and dad like his very own. Never a moments hesitation to call them mom and dad, he loved them dearly. Always wanting to be apart of the family, he would drop everything to help take care of my parents.

A son learns from his parents how to be a wonderful husband and father. He loved the example they set for him and wanted to set that same example for his children. His desire to be apart of their life went as far as putting career ambition aside so he could always be close to his parents.

Friends, close friends like the Guidry family made Duane's heart full. He admired the hard work and dedication of his friend Chris, loved Jessie's devotion to me, and would never bat and eyelash at doing anything for the Guidry children. They were his extended family.

When I asked the children what should be the first thing that we talk about in Daddy's book, some said, "he loved chicken and dumplings!"(that's for another post), "he loved his kids!"(that's for another post), "He Loved Everyone!". YES! That's It! He truly loved everyone, so we started his book with the huge heart that Duane had. Everyone.

Once in church I asked him why he went over to say hi to so many strangers, new faces he didn't even know. His reply "They need to know that someone is happy to see them here." He even loved perfect strangers. What a great example Daddy will always be to each of us, just love.