Memory lane

Today started out a little shaky after being up all night but as the day went on... It got better and better.  Today is our sweet Lauralees 30th birthday and we did a lot of thumbing through pictures and reminiscing.  You know I did all the talking, as usual, but Pat enjoyed it by the look in his eyes.  Later we ran errands and our friend Jennifer went with us. We showed  her where our children went to school and decided to turn into their middle school which was West Millbrook.  We parked at their baseball fields which holds so many memories for us especially Pat.  He was quite the coach to all three of our children, as well as half of North Raleigh!  We walked around the fields and the dugouts and the batting cage.  Boy did he perk up!  One particular story stood out today because it was about the birthday girl.  The story goes... Pat had two boys and one girl who he was determined to make into a boy it seemed.  Can you spell COMPETETIVE?  That's my Pat.  Well, Laura Lee was in the middle of softball try outs for  west Millbrook and it was do or die!  Her coach, Mrs Moore, looked far beyond the outfield up into a wooded picnic table area..... And who did she see???? There sat Pat in his coat and tie (work attire) perched on a picnic table spying on LauraLee!  Like he didn't stand out!  I don't really know if he was spying on his little girl or the coach but either way.. She made the team!  And lauralee never lived it down.  What a good day it was for COACH MERRITT!  He was and still is that kind of dad.  I will end with what I had to remind them both for many years afterwards.... LAURALEE YOU ARE A GIRL!  STOP IT PAT!  And what a beautiful DADDYS  girl she is....