My Dad is in town this week. I haven’t seen him since last summer, when my Mom passed away. Of course we’ve talked on the telephone every few days since then, but seeing him is so different. So much better.
With family, you just fall into the old familiar habits so easily. Dad and I sit up after everyone else has gone to sleep and we chat. We talk a lot about our memories of Mom; happy memories and sad memories, easy memories and hard ones. Our voices quaver, and the tears fall softly as well tell over the depth of our loss. We remember the million wonderful ways she touched our lives.
But we don’t only dwell on the past and loss. We talk of the future: of Dad’s new home, his travel plans, the next time we’ll see each other again. We share our passion for history and faraway places: Athens, Istanbul, Dublin, Rome. We sit up late and talk, laugh, learn. We sit in companionable silence. We relish each other’s company.
My Dad is here for four more days, and I plan to enjoy every minute of that time.
Love you, Dad!
Sounds like an awesome visit, Kath. Your dad sounds like a very interesting man. Enjoy!
Awesome. So, so glad you guys are enjoying each other.
Katherine, It is so hard for me to say this, but every now and then I think of your mother and I have to stop and think where is she? I do not know and that makes me feel empty.
I called your Dad just before he moved and got the answering machine and there was your Mom. I don’t know how to explain how I felt at that moment, but it was a mixture of “Oh there she is and then realization that it was just a recording.
We all know how hard it is for you girls. For all of her siblings and inlaws it is so hard to accept the realization of her not being here any more. Our generation is coming to the end of of our journeys (as your mom said) so enjoy your Dad.
Hey! My dad is here for the week too! He and Lucy are here to help us celebrate American Thanksgiving!