TGIF. This weeks quote. ” One day I hope to be the man my children think I am.” Harry Chapin
I am on my way to Harrisburg PA on Amtrak to meet up with my sister and father. Dad has been in Florida the past 6 months and is beginning to show the struggles of getting older. I’m sure he could have driven home safely by himself but my sisters and I decided why risk the chance. So I get the last leg taking Dad home. Some people have questioned the necessity but to me it is an opportunity to reconnect for a few hours alone with my dad. Many of you know my dad and how he always likes to say that he’s been Alice’s husband, Pat, Tom, Kevin, Teresa or Diane’s father, the grandfather of the triplets or many other titles that he wears proudly. But to me he’s my dad. A man who I have the utmost respect and admiration for. A man whose wisdom, strenght and fortitude helped mold the man I have become. I’ve said before that its hard to watch a parent age. My thoughts always run the gamut of things we used to do, fun times we had, lessons learned. And the realization that time is slipping away on making new memories. So I am going to cherish the day off during the crazy busy tax season, forget the cazy hectic daily life that has become our daily routine and have lunch with my hero. See I am fortunate. My dad is the man I that I always thought he was. I can only wish that one day I will be the same to my children.
As I’ve said before if you are lucky enough to have a parent in your life you are lucky indeed. Take the time to let them know how important they are in your life, how lucky you are to have been their child, how much you love them. For the time we have left is short and soon all that will be left is the memories. Today I will read this to my dad and he will grow silent. Not sure what to do or say. But that isn’t my goal. My goal is to just enjoy his company while I still can. To let him know that I love him. And to make another memory to sustain me for the day when the memory is all I’ll have.
Have a great week. My God bless you and yours and hold you in the palm of His hand.