HAPPY FATHER'S DAY IN HEAVEN, DAD

My late father, known as "Papa Duke" in THE DACHSHUND ESCAPADES, was one of the main reasons I wrote those books--to let his great grandchildren (whom he never met, sadly) know him and about him.  He passed away before they were born.

Here's a fitting tribute to my friendly, outgoing, teddy bear of a man, my dad:

I also posted this poem on my Facebook page, Mavis Duke Hinton's Books.  Someone once said that we never really "get over" the death of a loved one; we merely learn to keep going, and the warm memories will eventually replace the pain that is felt at the time we lose them.  I agree wholeheartedly!

I have many fond memories of my dad, and now the little great grandchildren can have them as well.  My eight-year-old granddaughter Alexa has been reading I AM SARGE.  She recently asked me, "Grandma, did that fishing story really happen?"  I was thrilled to tell her that it did, but the main difference between the one in the book and the actual event was that Sarge the doxie wasn't with Papa and Sellars in the boat.  Sarge had to be there in order to tell the story firsthand.  In fact, the real event actually occurred in Alaska, whereas in the book, it happened in North Carolina. Writing fiction allows one some leeway :).

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY IN HEAVEN, DAD!  We miss you.

Dad with his catch of salmon in Alaska

HAPPY VETERANS DAY!

Here's wishing a Happy Veterans Day to all who have served or are currently serving!  We thank you for protecting our freedoms and way of life.

I would especially like to thank my two personal veterans:  my late father, Robert D. Duke, who served in Guadalcanal, New Caledonia, and the Philippines in WWII; and my husband Clark, who served with the military police in Vietnam.

May you have a blessed day, veterans.  Many restaurants here in Georgia are offering free meals to veterans, and we are going to partake later today.  What a nice gesture!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, CLARK AND DAD!

My husband Clark is a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather.  We all appreciate his kindness, selflessness, and handyman abilities, too.  I could go on and on, but you get the idea.  He's literally one in a million, and I love the fact that the Lord saw fit to bring us together over 41 years ago!

Clark and me with our
wonderful grandchildren

I also think of my beloved dad on Father's Day (and nearly every day) since he went home to be with the Lord in October 2000.  He's the Papa Duke in my books, and we all miss his sense of humor, his robust laugh, his zany-but-true stories, and his delicious cooking!

Happy Father's Day to these two men who have made my life so much more than it would have been without them in it.  I am blessed.