Its become a bit of a tradition. I come home from celebrating the New Year and then, when the whole house is quiet, I sit down to write and think about my father. At 2am on New Years Day it will be five years since he died. I also think about how its been five years since I was born…
I’m not sure I would be a writer if my father hadn’t died at the age of 57. He died of an inoperable brain tumor on his optic nerve. He also died of want. Most people don’t expect someone like my dad to die of want, but its the sunny ones that are the trickiest. On the outside he was beloved by almost everyone who met him. He was a wonderful husband and father, he was a volunteer fire fighter, a coach, a counselor, a friend. He was an all-around good guy. In fact there was a two hour wait on line at his wake. The line was out the door and around the block in 20 degree weather. How does a man like that die of want and even if he had, how could I possibly know?
I know because when I watched him die, I was afraid that one day I might die of want too. I was afraid of what we both knew… that you could live your whole life being what you are without ever being who you are.
There is value in being good at what you are, but there is loneliness in never being good at who you are.
I lost so much the night my father died, but I found something too. I found the courage that he left behind. It wasn’t enough courage to take him to the places that he wanted to go, but when combined with the bit that I’d been given for myself…it has become enough. Its let me find my voice. It has allowed me to write the things that are in my heart and soul. Through my writing I say things aloud that I’d barely allowed myself to think in the past. When I write, I am who I am. I picture him standing behind me, reading over my shoulder, knowing that I will never die of want because of who he is.
I love you Daddy…
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Kim,
I get it!!! Truer words have never been spoken!! 2009 marked 33 years since my father passed at 32 and 10 for my mother at 50. Such events shape who we are, forever!!
Stacy
They never leave your heart but your heart is better for having them live there…Happy New Year Stacy. :o)
I am in tears reading this. I lost someone who died in want as well a few weeks ago. It’s made me rethink a lot of things. {{{{sisterwritermamahugs}}} I’m so sorry for the loss of your dad. It’s obvious by the lovely daughter he raised, that he was a magnificent man. <3
{{{{{{{{siterwritermamafriendhugsback}}}}}}}