Ode To My Father

My father retruned to the true essense of life a little more than two years ago.  I have thought about him often and actually recognize much of him in myself.  It's funny how you begin to notice llittle things about yourself that your father did without intentionally doing them.  I wrote the below piece a couple weeks after his transition in October 2008.

Earlier this month I lost my father.  It was no surprise, he had been ailing for about a year now and was slowly withering away.  I don’t write this post in sadness as my father had a great life and provided a great life for me and my siblings as well.  I’m sure he would probably say there were things he could have changed or done better, but from my point of view he was a great father and provider.  He lived on this Earth for almost eighty two years and had the opportunity to travel around the world on several occasions.  He could be very funny, always making you laugh.  On Friday eveningsIt was his time to cook and most often it was fried fish.  He would be sipping his “tea” while cooking and cracking jokes the whole time as the “tea” made him more and more tipsy, but the fish was always great, and of course it was late into the evening before we could taste his good cooking.  Daddy you will be missed, your humor, your determination, your stern ways and perseverance.  You taught us well.  And I thank you and salute you.  And I know our country salutes you for your service to the country in the U.S. Navy for 20 years!

I Did Not Die

Do not stand at my grave and weep

I am not there I do not sleep

I am a thousand winds that blow

I am the diamond glints in the snow

I am the sunlight on the ripened grain

I am a gentle autumn’s rain

When you awaken in the morning hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

I am the birds in circled flight

I am the soft stars that shine at night

So don’t stand on my grave and cry

I am not there…I did not die

…Author unknown