One Dad
A few of my good friends lost their Dads recently. My heart aches for them because I know what is going to happen now.
They are going to be driving somewhere in their car and a song is going to come on the radio and they're gonna' think:
'I gotta' call Dad.'
Or a political leader will stand up and say something stupid and the first impulse for Chuck and George and Chris will be to grab the phone and dial the number.
It's going to happen.
And I know that there will be moments when something that their Dads said will ring around in their minds as they deal with someone who doesn't deserve every ounce of their kindness.
And they will laugh.
The real sad part of it, for me, is that I knew Chuck's and Chris' and George's Dads a little bit. Not enough, of course, but enough to know that they were hardworking, honest, good men who lived full and happy lives and did it the right way, of course, with a love of family, the country and a few laughs.
Just like my Dad.
Yet there is little comfort in all of that on the day when you lose your Dad, or on any of the days that follow.
Because you only get one Dad.
And whether you're five or fifty...if he did it right...you need him there. And you all still need your Dad. They did it right.
My Dad got sick in the 90's and needed an operation. I remember walking away from his hospital bed in the immediate moment after he got out of surgery and thinking:
"Dad can't be sick. He's invincible."
And that was the first time when I knew that he wasn't.
And I haven't been the same since.
But there was also a moment during the wake for Dad when my Mom turned to me and simply said:
"He was a good man."
And I, of course, lost it.
I still lose it when I think of that.
But Chuck and George and Chris, know one thing from a guy looking at it from outside.
Your Dads were good men.
No one will ever be able to strip you of that, and you know how they will feel at every important moment for the rest of your lives.
Because your Dad loved you.
And that's one of the most pure loves that this life has to offer.
Dedicated to Chuck Leone, George Ray and Chris Miller; three good men, borne of good men.
They are going to be driving somewhere in their car and a song is going to come on the radio and they're gonna' think:
'I gotta' call Dad.'
Or a political leader will stand up and say something stupid and the first impulse for Chuck and George and Chris will be to grab the phone and dial the number.
It's going to happen.
And I know that there will be moments when something that their Dads said will ring around in their minds as they deal with someone who doesn't deserve every ounce of their kindness.
And they will laugh.
The real sad part of it, for me, is that I knew Chuck's and Chris' and George's Dads a little bit. Not enough, of course, but enough to know that they were hardworking, honest, good men who lived full and happy lives and did it the right way, of course, with a love of family, the country and a few laughs.
Just like my Dad.
Yet there is little comfort in all of that on the day when you lose your Dad, or on any of the days that follow.
Because you only get one Dad.
And whether you're five or fifty...if he did it right...you need him there. And you all still need your Dad. They did it right.
My Dad got sick in the 90's and needed an operation. I remember walking away from his hospital bed in the immediate moment after he got out of surgery and thinking:
"Dad can't be sick. He's invincible."
And that was the first time when I knew that he wasn't.
And I haven't been the same since.
But there was also a moment during the wake for Dad when my Mom turned to me and simply said:
"He was a good man."
And I, of course, lost it.
I still lose it when I think of that.
But Chuck and George and Chris, know one thing from a guy looking at it from outside.
Your Dads were good men.
No one will ever be able to strip you of that, and you know how they will feel at every important moment for the rest of your lives.
Because your Dad loved you.
And that's one of the most pure loves that this life has to offer.
Dedicated to Chuck Leone, George Ray and Chris Miller; three good men, borne of good men.
Comments
My kids' dad loved them like no other man will. He was a good man.
God bless you and your family.
George