6 Years: A Letter to My Dad

 (Harry S. Chandler and "Shrimp" Ebright, 1970)

Pops,

Six years ago...it was a Saturday, as well...I was hiking Syncline in the Gorge, thinking of you.

There were California Poppies growing, little waterfalls trickling down, and wide vistas of the river, cliffs, and hills.

You would have loved it.

Six years...how can it be that long already?  The last 5 years seem to have been sucked into a vacuum.

I think of you more this year.

I'm getting married, and it's a constant reminder of your absence.

But you'll be there, because a part of you is in all of us.

Beth gave me your pin for my birthday last year.  I had completely forgotten about it, and had to choke back tears, it brought up so much emotion.  

And this morning when I woke up, out of the blue I remembered the mug you had with seagulls on it.  It was your Earl Grey Tea mug, in my memory.

My best friend's mother in law, Barb, realized who you were and told me stories of being on the board of Tryon Creek Park together.

Each of these memories is a gift, whether tangible or not.

I'm so grateful to have had you as my father.

In all my actions I remember those inherent lessons we learned.  

Honesty.  Integrity.  Patience.

My Cowboy-Lawyer Father, I miss you every day.

Let's set another dream date.

Sushi, my treat.

And perhaps...perhaps we will see you somewhere at Tryon Creek Park today.

All My Love.