Half pint was a term of endearment my dad used for me. I always loved that. As the youngest in a family of eight, I often felt left out, specifically from my five siblings. But running out to my dad and being called half pint made me feel important and special. Even when he called me worm, because I squiggled around a lot, I knew I could do nothing wrong in his eyes.
(My family from way back. That's me sitting in my daddy's lap. Even I have to laugh at that pony tail!)
Thinking back on it, I wonder if there were reasons for the term half pint other than being the youngest and smallest. (I won't mention the cutest! But I was ornery sometimes, even back then.)
(Me being ornery)
Of course there's the half pint of liquor. Well, I'm sure my father drank, but I never saw him drink more than a beer or two while enjoying his cigar. (This was way back when. My parents divorced when I was ten.)
Half pint has so many connotations. But I don't care about them. I only care to remember running into my dad's arms when he returned home from work and lifted me up smiling and saying in his quiet, teasing voice, "Hey, half pint!"
I truly don't remember much else after that moment, but that was enough to sear into my heart wonderful, indelible images of my father, who past away at such a young age in 1991 of congestive heart failure.
(My dad with his sister, whom I'd only met once years ago.)
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As soon as I saw your post title, I thought of Laura Ingalls. I was in love with her books as a child - first books I read, and I read them until they fell apart.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your precious memories with us. Fathers are the best, aren't they??
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I never read any of the books, though my niece did and loved them too. My father definitely was. He was more of a loner though, so when they divorced, we had visits, but of course it was never the same.
DeleteWhat a heartfelt post. So sorry to hear about your Dad passing. I had a nickname too growing up. It was Cookie. Though I wasn't always sweet like one, lol. And like you, I had my ornery moments, in fact I think I still do. (:
ReplyDeleteI guess it's the right of those who were daddy's girls!
DeleteHalf pint is a cute term of endearment which obviously meant a lot to you.
ReplyDeleteWhenever you see a half pint of beer, milk or whatever other beverage, I'm sure it puts a smile on your dial!
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Actually, it's not something I think of a lot, and it came up when I searched for H words for this post. :) I hadn't seen that old family picture in so long, it was great to write this.
DeleteOh my goodness, that picture of you with the little pouty face is precious. No wonder your daddy adored you-- you worked it!
ReplyDeleteWell, he was really my only true ally! I had to learn to "work it" as you say with someone! :)
DeleteLOVE your story of "Half-Pint." i call my best friend that because of "Little House," and she loves it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my site! A to Z rules.
I'm glad I did, and thanks for the return visit! Nicknames are great. I had so many for my niece and nephew! I think I loved them more than they... maybe. :)
DeleteSorry about your dad. Mine called me Ma'am still does sometimes. I actually like it.
ReplyDeleteThat is a cute name to call you're daughter!
DeleteI thought of Laura Ingalls from the title too. Half Pint is such a cute nickname! And your family pictures are wonderful. So sorry you lost your dad at such a young age.
ReplyDeleteThanks Julie. Glad you enjoyed them. It would have been great to know him better. But the time will come, right?
DeleteI love your post. It's so heartfelt. Thank you for sharing such sweet memories. I love the photos too.
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Thanks Kristen! It is great to go back over some of those old, tucked away moments. :)
DeleteFunny I never thought much about that berm anyway even with laura:)
ReplyDeleteI don't know what it is about photos, but I just love seeing family photos; Easter portraits with one or another of the kids sticking out their tongues - we were little squirts. I suppose that's rather like a half-pint, only messier? Wonderful post!
ReplyDeletePhotos just bring up the best things (and sometimes not so good) about that time. History is gone, and sometimes you'd totally forgotten it all until you see the memory again.
DeleteIt sounds like he loved you a LOT! I can only imagine the blessing of having a caring father. And you were an adorable baby even with the ornery look. :)
ReplyDeleteAww! You make me blush. :)
DeleteWow, youngest of eight? That's quite a large family, though it sounds like there was plenty of love to spread around. :)
ReplyDeleteNo. Family of 8, but 6 kids. So, I guess you can say I was the youngest of 8 still. :)
DeleteIt's awesome that you got to have such a special relationship with your father. My parents stayed together, but I never felt close to my father. He worked all day then he'd come home and get drunk, so I never got to see him too much when he was sober.
ReplyDeleteI remember, as a little girl, watching Little House on the Prairie and pretending that Pa was my dad. I loved that show. I think, even now, that I learned most of my morals from Little House rather than my parents. And you're right, a lot of the episodes are timeless. I can watch them even now and enjoy them.
And I loved all the books too but that was one of the few cases where I loved the show more. I always thought it was so cute that Pa called Laura half-pint. It's an adorable nickname and it's nice that it got to make you feel so special. :)
I loved watching the Brady Bunch for the same reason. To me, it was how a family was supposed to act - the parents listening and giving value to how the kids felt, sibs respecting each other, even when they were upset. I tell you, TV taught me a lot!
DeleteI don't remember much around the time my parents divorced. I just remember things changed a lot - got much more chaotic, and I think maybe it was the start of some depression that would come and go throughout much of my life.
I can see how such a cute nickname made you feel included. When I hear Half Pint I always think of Little House on the Prairie.
ReplyDeleteIt did!
DeleteIt was said with love. How cool is that. And may I point out that there are no E's in Half Pint!
ReplyDelete