June 16, 2010
So, I wasn't going to blog tonight because I didn't feel like it, but then I read this e-mail from my mom and it made me want to write. It made me cry--which I know, I know. It doesn't take a lot for me to do so, but considering Father's Day is coming up and this is the second year I won't be with my dad, it made me sad. And p.s., this was the second year I wasn't with my mom on Mother's Day. For some, this isn't a big deal--for me, it's a really big deal.
Here is the e-mail:
"Recently, I overheard a Father and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure. Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the Father said, "I love you and I wish you enough."
The daughter replied, "Dad, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Dad." The daughter left. The Father walked over to the window and I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude, but he welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?"
"Yes, I have," I replied. "Forgive me for asking , but why is this a forever good-bye?"
"I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is--the next trip back will be for my funeral," he said.
"What does 'I wish you had enough' mean?" I ask.
He began to smile, turned to me and shared the following:
I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.
I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.
They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but an entire life to forget them."
So, on this Sunday, tell your father, grandfather, mother, grandmother, brother, sister, whoever...that you love them and appreciate them. That you respect them for who they are, what they do for you, and how they make you a better person each and every day.
Family is too often taken for granted--I'm as guilty as the next person. Without family, a person is empty. Your family is the one who picks you up when you're down; helps you when you call crying because life has kicked you down again; and brings a smile to your face when they reminisce about past Christmases. You know what they say? You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family. Remember this. Whether you like it or not, you're stuck with them! ;)
Tonight, we went to Burger Night. But we didn't have a burger. Instead, we order a $35 pizza! Are you kidding me?!? That's outrageous! Why so much, you ask? It was truffle pizza, that's why. And we ordered a cobb salad with shrimp--oh man, so good! Then we had to get the chocolate cake! Again, delicious! It's such a great place to eat! Everyone is so nice!
Note to self: Don't go running through the apartment complex at 9:30 p.m. You will get wet from the sprinklers. And yes, the sprinklers follow you. Either run faster or learn the D's of Dodgeball: Dodge, Dip, Dive, Duck, Dodge. It's that serious. =) These sprinklers don't mess around! Nor should you be on the sidewalk around 12:00 a.m. You will be soaked by the time you get to my front door.