More than five years have passed since my dad went home to Heaven. Hard to believe it's been that long. It's moments like these that remind me about another holiday I won't get to share with him. It makes me sad.

There are still times that I'm doing something, listening to music, or struggling with something and I'll think, "If only I could talk to my dad, he could help, or he'd like that song."

What would he think of Clay? I think he would have liked him. :-)

December is an especially difficult month. Not only do we have Christmas, but my dad's birthday was the 30th. My husband's mom's birthday was the 29th, and his grandmother's was the 18th. They are no longer with us either.

Come to think of it, David's birthday was the 10th. Today. He was my best friend growing up. A drunk driver hit him while he was riding his bike one evening back in May of 1986. We were in high school. After 2 1/2 days on life support, his parents decided to let him go. He was brain dead. There was no hope, they thought. The was the hardest thing I ever had to deal with up to that point in my life.

I just realized something very strange. All of these loved ones that I just mentioned had birthdays in December. They all died in the month of May - in various years - but how strange.

I'm rambling now.

My dad and I got along very well. We were great friends. I gained my love of music because of he and my mother. They divorced when I was seven, but there was always music no matter whose house I was at.

Kenny Loggins was the first concert I attended. I was 8. We saw Kenny every year in Santa Barbara. I grew to love his music. I like him from the beginning, but he became a life long favorite.

My dad let me go to my first concert without an adult when I was 14. He drove me and a couple of friends from Carpinteria to Santa Barbara, about 15 miles, to the Arlington Theater. We saw Dokken and Lita Ford. I would love to see Clay perform there some day.

Dad drove me to several concerts before I finally got my licensce. He was the coolest dad! Even my friends thought so. :-)

The Hamilton genes are strong. I look a lot like my dad. MY youngest daughter looks like hime too. Even with her dad's Mexican and Indian genes, the German and English genes are the dominent ones. She's go the same facial expressions as "Grandpa Robin."

My dad died when my little one was just 3 1/2 months old. I am very thankful that he got to see her and touch her before he left this earth. Sadly, she will never "know" him. At least not here. One day in Heaven we will all be reunited. I know they would have gotten along splendidly.

I could easily write pages and pages about my dad, but I'll save other stories for another time, another blog.