I Remember Dad

I REMEMBER DAD

I sat on his porch with him looking at the water. We rocked back and forth in silence for a while. He started to say something but couldn’t get the words out, so stopped in frustration. I knew it was something that bothered him, ever since his stroke. The words don’t come easily like they used to. I don’t call attention to it, and we continue to rock. Every night here on his porch since his hospital stay.

I have asked him many questions in the evenings as we rock. I’ve learned so much more about him.

Why did it take so long to get to this point? Because my life was too busy?
Shame on me.

I remember him singing to me when I was little. Songs like~ “Did You Happen To See The Most Beautiful Girl In The World” or “Up Up And Away In My Beautiful Balloon”. The words came easy back then. He had the best voice. I remember that I never had to worry about anything growing up. Dad took care of it. He was a constant.

But I grew up. Life happened.
Marriage, babies, toddlers, high school, college, weddings, grand babies.
Just life.

Of course we got together for holidays and birthdays.
But not like this.
Not in the quiet.
Just being together for no reason but to be together.

It makes me sad that I could’ve had this all along if I had just put forth a little effort. But we wait until tragedy strikes before our eyes our opened.

The doctor gives bad news. We cry. We change, but often it’s too late. The time is fleeting before there isn’t any time left at all.

TAKE the time today to MAKE the time to be with your daddy. To enjoy just being with him for no reason at all. To talk together. To get to know him and the man he was. The man he is. Don’t wait until it’s too late.

How well do you truly know the man who raised you? I guarantee he would love to tell you his story. Work and friends and responsibilities~ they will always be there, but your dad will not.

Go sit on the porch with him today.
Just because.
Then tell him how much you love him and how thankful you are for him.

Every day can be Father’s Day with just a little effort and a whole lot of love.