My oldest is 34 today – What is that all about

Today is January 3, 2016.

34 years ago the announcement that may have been printed in the local paper would have said, “Mr Teddy Burriss & his lovely wife Rebecca (aka Bum) are the proud parents of a bouncing baby girl.”

I asked them not to print that because I had yet to see our newborn baby bounce. And, Rebecca did not want me to test her.

True story – As an infant, I dropped her once and I was not testing the bounce theory.

Fast forward to yesterday when this observation of being the Father of a 34 year old really hit me.

I decided to look back at the past 34 years and review the memories.

Here are the ones that came to mind the quickest, not necessarily in chronological order:

• 8lbs, 1 oz, 21.5″ long, ear is red from doctor using forceps, no birth marks
• very alert, as if to be asking “who is that loud guy?”
• blue eyes, ultimately blond hair at year 1
• Ronald Regan was our President
• loved to put food in her hair
• Loves mashed potatoes
• face plant at the pool
• cousins
• burb-bottom
• loves to help mom cook
• Dad hung Aubrey (the doll)
• at Fireworks – ‘change the channel please’
• “I’ll have Chicken nuggets and for my two sides I’ll have mashed potatoes and mashed potatoes”
• Made me smile day one and still today
• Short curly hair as a child
• She loves (loved?) mismatched clothes
• Play music and she danced. More like her mommy, not her daddy
• Put a crayon or pencil in her hand and she smiled as she wrote words
• She loves to learn
• She loves the teachers who care to teach her
• She asks lots of questions
• She was as beautiful as a child as she is today
• No, she did not have me wrapped around her little finger
• I gave her my favorite little car
• Miss curfew and Mom will run down the sidewalk in her big fluffy yellow robe & curlers in her hair to yell at you and your boy friend
• She was clear and precise at finding her life partner. Skips celebrations on Leap Year since 2000
• Her husband is a good choice.
• The trials and tribulations of becoming a tenant. Slum lords suck
• Love pushes you to achieve lots of goals, including your husband’s US Citizenship. It was all him, but with a good women behind him
• Early Home Owner  because you built your Credit Score
• You became a fabulous mommy in development on 5/13/2003
• “What do you hear?”, “I hear two”, “two what”, “heart beats”, “where”, in there”, “in her?”….
• A business woman has Focus, Passion, Desire, Attitude, Ability, Purpose, Goal, Compassion, Faith and never lets anything stop her from building a thriving business that changes peoples lives in a positive way
• Landlord, Home Owner & Mortgage Banker
• Yeah, we’ll have 4 children
• Your family is my family, let’s do what we can to help them
• Our home is their home
• We are responsible for her success because we brought her to our home. We’ll treat her like our daughter.
• Tippy
• Becca
• Rosie
• Bubble Lips
• Hard work is only for those who don’t love their business
• Yes baby, we’ll move to Raleigh because you love your job
• Tree
• Luge in the back yard in the winter
• Walking in the blizzard
• Can I play with the computer Daddy?
• What is the Internet and how do you make money using it?
• Myrtle
• GrandWeWaps
• Dad bought a bra
• Boss & Leader
• Entrepreneur
• Activist
• Writer
• Why is Izzy crying now?
• Columnist
• If the answer should be yes, she’ll not take no for an answer.
• Smart
• Sassy
• Frugal
• Moola Saving Mom is a success!
• Strategist
• Happy
• Loving

My daughter – Jessie Lee.

I am a blessed Man. I have four beautiful smart, compassionate daughters. Each raising their own family. Being a Blessed Dad kicked off for me 34 years ago.

Happy Birthday Jessie

I love you

Dad

Here are some images that sparked my memories