The Romantic.com

July 21, 1999

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T h e R o M A N t i c T I P o f t h e W E E K

JULY 21, 1999

Creative ideas, great prizes. More than 6,500 subscribers.
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F R O M T H E E D I T O R

Another busy week in romance land. Several more publications
and web sites are now using The RoMANtic Syndicated Column.
Combined readership exceeds 7 million. A feature piece on
me and my romance business is in the July/August issue of
Home Business Journal in case you see one around. — Michael
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W E E K L Y C O N T E S T

Richard De Clemente of Port Jefferson Station, NY won last week’s
contest about travel tips. His book on romantic New York is on its
way.

Speaking of travel, Athena and I will be leaving for a little trip to
a country in either Central or North America. Send me your guess
with the country in the subject line and I’ll choose one person from
all the correct entries.

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T I P O F T H E W E E K

While the following story isn’t exactly “romantic” I think
we can all see the common elements. I felt quite moved
by it so I’m making it my Tip of the Week. — Michael

THE COOLEST DAD IN THE UNIVERSE
By Angie K. Ward-Kucer

He was 50 years old when I was born, and a “Mr. Mom” long
before anyone had a name for it. I didn’t know why he was home
instead of Mom, but I was young and the only one of my friends
who had their dad around. I considered myself very lucky.

Dad did so many things for me during my grade-school years.
He convinced the school bus driver to pick me up my house instead
of the usual bus stop that was six blocks away. He always had my
lunch ready for me when I came home – usually a peanut butter and
jelly sandwich that was shaped for the season. My favorite was at
Christmas. The sandwiches would be sprinkled with green sugar and
cut in the shape of a tree.

As I got a little older and tried to gain my independence, I wanted to
move away from those “childish” signs of his love. But he wasn’t going
to give up. In high school and no longer able to go home for lunch, I
began taking my own. Dad would get up a little early and make it for me.
I never knew what to expect. The outside of the sack might be covered
with his rendering of a mountain scene (it became his trademark) or a
heart inscribed with “Dad-n-Angie K.K.” in its center. Inside there
would be a napkin with that same heart or an “I love you.” Many times he
would write a joke or a riddle, such as “Why don’t they ever call it a
momsicle instead of a popsicle?” He always had some silly saying to make
me smile and let me know that he loved me.

I used to hide my lunch so no one would see the bag or read
the napkin, but that didn’t last long. One of my friends saw the
napkin one day, grabbed it, and passed it around the lunch room.
My face burned with embarrassment. To my astonishment, the next
day all my friends were waiting to see the napkin. From the way they
acted, I think they all wished they had someone who showed them
that kind of love. I was so proud to have him as my father. Throughout
the rest of my high school years, I received those napkins, and still
have a majority of them.

And still it didn’t end. When I left home for college (the last one to
leave), I thought the messages would stop. But my friends and I
were glad that his gestures continued.

I missed seeing my dad every day after school and so I called
him a lot. My phone bills got to be pretty high. It didn’t matter what
we said; I just wanted to hear his voice. We started a ritual during that
first
year that stayed with us. After I said goodbye he always said, “Angie?”
“Yes, Dad?” I’d reply.
“I love you.”
“I love you, too, Dad.”

I began getting letters almost every Friday. The front-desk staff
always knew who the letter were from – the return address said
“The Hunk.” Many times the envelopes were addressed in crayon,
and along with the enclosed letters were usually drawings of our
cat and dog, stick figures of him and Mom, and if I had been home
the weekend before, of me racing around town with friends and using
the house as a pit stop. He also had his mountain scene and the
heart-encased inscription, Dad-n-Angie K.K.

The mail was delivered every day right before lunch, so I’d have
his letters with me when I went to the cafeteria. I realized it was
useless to hide them because my roommate was a high school
friend who knew about his napkins. Soon it became a Friday
afternoon ritual. I would read the letters, and the drawing and
envelope would be passed around.

It was during this time that Dad became stricken with cancer.
When the letters didn’t come on Friday, I knew that he had been sick
and wasn’t able to write. He used to get up at 4:00a.m. so he could sit
in the quiet house and do his letters. If he missed his Friday delivery,
the letters would usually come a day or two later. But they always
came. My friends used to call him “Coolest Dad in the Universe.”
And one day they sent him a card bestowing that title, signed by all
of them. I believe he taught all of us about a father’s love. I wouldn’t be
surprised if my friends started sending napkins to their children. He left an
impression that would stay with them and inspire them to give their
own children their expression of their love.

Throughout my four years of college, the letters and phone
calls came at regular intervals. But then the time came when I
decided to come home and be with him because he was growing
sicker, and I knew that our time together was limited. Those were the
hardest days to go through. To watch this man, who always acted
so young, age past his years. In the end he didn’t recognize who I
was and would call me the name of a relative he hadn’t seen in many
years. Even though I knew it was due to his illness, it still hurt that
he couldn’t remember my name.

I was alone with him in his hospital room a couple of days before he
died. We held hands and watched TV. As I was getting ready to leave, he
said, “Angie?”
“Yes, Dad?”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too, Dad.”

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~~~     Romantic Resources      ~~~

Draw closer together with 1000 Questions for Couples at
http://www.questionsforcouples.com

Spice up your love life with 500 Lovemaking Tips & Secretshttp://www.500lovemakingtips.com

Learn the 50 Secrets of Blissful Relationships at
http://www.50secrets.com

Discover 300 Creative Dates at http://www.300creativedates.com

There is A Better Way To Date
http://theromantic.com/abetterway.htm

Read about The Romantic’s Guide to Popping the Question at
http://www.howtoproposemarriage.com

You can purchase Michael Webb’s bestseller, The Romantic’s Guide:
Hundreds of Creative Tips for a Lifetime of Love, at bookstores
nationwide, Amazon.com or BN.com
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~~~  Who is Michael Webb?     ~~~

He is:
Athena’s loving husband
Father to Ashton and Ireland
Best-selling author
* The Romantic’s Guide: 100s of Creative Tips for a Lifetime of Love
* The Romantic’s Guide to Popping the Question
* 50 Secrets of Blissful Relationships
* 50 More Secrets of Blissful Relationships
* 300 Creative Dates
* 1000 Questions for Couples
* A Better Way to Date
* 500 Lovemaking Tips & Secrets
Founder, National Resurrect Romance Week (second full week in Aug)
Syndicated Columnist, “TheRomantic.com Column”
Romance/Relationship expert on over 500 TV/radio stations
Founder, TheRomantic.com
Founder, Love One Another Foundation

Subscribe to Michael’s other e-zine – send blank e-mail to the
addresses Secrets of Blissful Relationships
mailto:secrets-on@mail-list.com Or subscribe athttp://theromantic.com