my dad {a saint patricks day birthday}

if you look at my family you could certainly say we are…maybe italian, maybe greek or even spanish.
{we’re greek} this is half true.  you may not see it upon first looks, but there is irish in the mix too.
yes. thanks to my father and ‘his side’ of things.
that being irish and english.
the fact that his birth happened to fall on saint patrick’s day further sealed the deal for him.
he was irish and proud of it.
joseph john patrick stonelake.  did i mention a good catholic boy too.
my dad was many things to me. loving, constant, exemplary, steady, involved, supportive, honorable…it doesn’t end.
i was his big ‘little’ girl.
i inherited my father’s eyes. not the colour, i could only wish. mine are dark brown.
his were the most amazing grey.
i inherited his creative eye.  something i didn’t realize until i was 16 or 17 or 18.
being a career military man, he didn’t wear it on his sleeve, but once i ‘saw’ it, i knew it had always quietly been there.
he especially loved his camera and loved taking pictures, lots and lots of them.
he gave me my first camera at 15. he knew the creative streak well and did everything
he could to keep it from going hungry.
he was my first and biggest supporter of anything i ever wanted to be or do. {ok. almost}
i miss my dad. a lot. i would love to hear his voice and feel his arm around me again.
i wish the card that i make him every year could be opened in person, by him.
i know he’s close and i know he can hear me and i guess that will have to do.
i wonder what he sees through those beautiful grey eyes now.
i hope he can see how much i am so grateful and thankful for the gifts he gave me. everyday.

***
i know these were some of the best years of his life.
young, in love, in greece.

maria and joseph
just beautiful.

here with my yaya (grandmother, in greek) in the background. relaxing in their courtyard.
love the shadows, compostion and simplicity of the colours.  who took this?

always the adventurer.

with us.

i think i have his smile too.

happy saint patrick’s day birthday dad.
love, your big ‘little’ girl.