An Ode to Papa: Book 4

I was born when Papa was about 28. A lot of things were new in his life, besides me. His marriage was new - about a year old, his job - a few years, most of his material possessions, car, dog, furniture etc. In photographs, he looks serious and thoughtful, with a smile beneath the surface. He still had his hair. I don't have any pictures of him holding me as an infant, but there's a great one of him holding me round the middle, when I am standing on a table. Even if I say so myself, I was a gorgeous kid. Papa seems to be showing me something in the picture, and that has been our interaction pattern in life. I never really realised just how often he would point out or talk about something that he thought worthwhile - that was his version of teaching me. I also haven't realised just how much I have learnt from him, including those things that can't be put in words.