Friday, November 1, 2019
Bye Dad,
Thanks for living 92 years. Whether you realize it or not, although the last 10 months were hard for you, we got some extra time with you that I like to think of as quality time. You were a captive audience. Each of us got to visit with you one on one and hear your stories one more time, or hear some new ones. I don’t know what took you in the end but at least you tried. It was easier to let you go knowing that you tried. Thanks for waiting until we were ready – sort of.
What did you leave for us? A life full of wonderful memories, a family intact, and your knowledge of a million little things. I never realized how little I worried when I was growing up. I never questioned whether you would be home at the end of each work day, that you would be sitting at the table with us each night having supper. I now realize how blessed I was to have that love, security and support each day of my life.
I can remember being with a bunch of my neighborhood friends in our garage. You came into the garage to get something from your workbench and said something silly to my friends and made them all laugh. I can remember my heart bursting with pride and thinking “that’s MY dad” the funny guy who is always nice to my friends. Not everyone’s dad was a nice as you or would take the time to joke with them or say a kind word.
And adventures – what is more fun than taking your daughter to the dump on a Saturday to find treasures. Even though it smelled funny, it was worth it to see the sheer joy on your face when you found a new tire wheel, or pieces of things that you could piece together to create a go-kart or make my bike better. You could see beyond the piece of trash to a creation that would put a smile on someone else face.
I didn’t realize how much I learned from you about how things work until later in life. At work one day I was discussing some kind of repair with our maintenance guys. After the conversation was over, my boss asked me how I knew so much about that subject. She also said that I know a lot about those type of things. It wasn’t until then that I realized I had picked it up from you. You always liked to explain each step of a repair process. I also realized she grew up without a dad – again I realized how lucky I was that you were always there.
And love – humans don’t love perfectly. But there was never any doubt in my mind that you loved mom with all your heart. I was touched to see you get choked up when you thought about her and what your like might have been like without her. You always knew you got the prize and were never quite sure how you won it.
You were a great dad to me and George. A wonderful grandfather to Dan and Laura – helping me out so many times with them and teaching them the value of hard work. Your field trips with them are well remembered. You were welcoming and warm to Nick and Allie. You treated Matt like he was your own and I know you think the world of him because you told me many times.
I couldn’t possibly fit all the memories you left me in this note and I’m sure after I print this I will think of something I should have included. The memories will live forever in my heart, you will live forever in my heart. You are gone but your legacy remains and continues through your family.
And by the way – there is not such thing as toes-a-titus; my sister’s nose will never be pink and blue, so I will not need to call the Dr….. and I googled – Sonna du chal – unna du chal and I cannot find that those are the words to Silent Night, Holy Night – in any language. So fly away jack…..
All my love to the best dad ever.
P.S. Sorry I didn’t like the Zorro costume you made me for Halloween. I think maybe I wanted to be a princess or something. Very creative though.
