To Be Remembered

So many of my stories share the examples of a father’s love and leadership witnessed during my own childhood. Some of these memories are tough life lessons. Others are the most splendid father and daughter moments. This Father’s Day I am so thankful to have been blessed by the love and guidance of my Daddy.

At a recent storytelling event at Burlington Elementary School, I entered the audience with a question.

“What would Daddy do?”

The kids had some great ideas.
Many shared their own wonderful reflections.
They all really wanted to know what Daddy DID do!

Imagine their surprise when I told them Daddy was in the audience that day! The crowd came to a stand, clapping and cheering expectantly for Daddy.

Now keep in mind this was a father they did not know. My Daddy. Connected only to the audience through the story told that day.

Yet, they desired to know. What DID Daddy do?

The lessons and the love we receive from our fathers and our father figures are desired. They are gifts in time. They are to be remembered. They are to be passed on.

Happy Father’s Day and thank you to all the Dads who are leading by example. The eyes of many are upon you. What will you do?

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And Then Suddenly…

Lately I have been suffering from the “and then suddenlies”. You know those kinds of moments that you know are coming and then suddenly they are here and then gone. And then suddenly moments are the bittersweets. The hang-on-just-a-little-bit-longer moments. They are a true blend of wanting to keep, but must let go.

Momma always told me time has a way of speeding up as you get older. I am beginning to see what she meant. This past month has been a whirlwind of the “and then suddenlies” of life and of death.

Near the beginning of April my oldest son turned 22. Our children’s birthdays always bring about a sentimental case of the “and then suddenlies”, don’t they?

Do you remember watching them teeter and toddle, and then suddenly they were walking?

How about watching them pretend as they looked through books, and then suddenly they were reading?

I’m sure, like me, you sent them into a Kindergarten classroom years ago, and then suddenly they walked out as a high school graduate!

No more training wheels. Remember that day? Well, that oldest son just removed his training wheels, landing his first full time job with all the benefits. He bought his own car and purchased his own insurance. Suddenly he became independent. And then suddenly he was truly riding along without me.

It was a bittersweet moment watching him drive away. I wanted to say wait, there must be something I need to tell you. But he just looked back. And then suddenly he was gone.

As I was growing up, my parents reminded me to always look back when I left the ones I loved. They taught me this because “you never know what life ahead of you holds”. You should take the time to look back because suddenly…

Tomorrow I will say goodbye to a dear friend. We met just a short time ago. We shared time and stories together on Wednesdays. We didn’t know each other long, before suddenly we had known each other forever. She was never able to remember my name, but it didn’t matter. We started talking and then suddenly she smiled and we began to remember. Most days my sweet friend looked up and smiled at me knowingly. Every day, as I was leaving, I looked back. There she was, smiling after me.

It seems like yesterday we just laughed together, we just held hands, and we just said I love you.

And then suddenly she’s gone.

I’m so glad I took the time to look back.