Happy birthday, Darkwing!

How sweet is this picture of my dad playing on the beach in Boston as a toddler??  This is from a newspaper clipping from the Summer of 1956, where my dad was featured, wearing his adorable sailor hat and building castles in the sand.  

Today, my family is celebrating the 56th birthday of my dad, who is fondly referred to on this blog, and by my sisters and me, as Darkwing (his initials are DW, like the main character in the cartoon, Darkwing Duck...it's been a nickname we've called him since we were little). 

July 15, 1954...a day that changed the world.  My world actually wouldn't exist at all if this cool guy hadn't come along!  

Darkwing picking me (+ little sister LMG) up from the Boston airport - Christmas 2003

If you've been following me for a while, you know that this year marked five years since our sweet, goofy Darkwing passed away.  He's still such a part of our everyday lives though - for me, my sisters and mom, my aunt, uncles, and cousins - that there's no way that we wouldn't continue to celebrate his life on the daily.  

Darkwing surprised us in June 2004 with his visit to California!  Big sis LR, lil sis LMG, DW, + me

My sisters and I still throw his sayings around regularly ("It's cuz I'm so damn good lookin', babe!" was his answer to everything), and we share laughs about all the silly things he used to do.  

Darkwing in April 2001 with (most of) his girls: (from l-r) me, my Auntie Patty, my mom, my cousin CWH, + lil sis LMG

To the most loving, hardworking, understanding, silliest, dorkiest (wonder where I get it from), most charismatic, and greatest loved dad/brother/uncle/son/best friend ever.... Happy birthday, Darkwing!!

(You can click here to see my sister LR's birthday tribute to our Dad, and here and here to learn a bit more about Darkwing.)