"Charles, Charles, Dear Old Dad"

 "Charles, Charles,my  Dear Old Dad"

(A Daughter’s Cheerful Farewell) 

Charles, Charles, my dear old Dad,  

Named for the bold,  yet gentle as a lad.  You took us both in when I was but two, "don't leave her behind" your heart was that true. 

My first great teacher, my mentor, my guide,

You Taught me to write and create universes wide , to paint with words where magic and reality collide .

my first editor at 9 - you nurtured each line, 

"Expand that description!" - your notes were divine.

You walked me through  a waltze for my old church dance , then down the Isle right into my life's greatest romance.

You Taught me  the cello, and to play the  piano by ear, you made sure your love of music would always stay near You wrote your own songs and you performed them bold and free ever so  loud and always on key

 never skipping a beat now your grand son Ohrin's got a  front row seat.  

Be you; you'd say with Herman Munsters grin, quoting his wise words you would preach again and again: 

it's not what you look like - that ain't the part but the character within and the size of your heart 

You taught me to paint, to dream, to create,

To laugh at the rules—and  still keep my faith straight. 

So I'll say your words now with a heavy heart to keep you always close though we're now far apart .

 As Spock once  said 

the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few "

but Dad? 

My need always was you.

 goodbye so long farewell and adieu live long and prosper till the stars reunite us two

**—Elainefaye Preslar Lunt Hamm**