Today, I attended a workshop and during the workshop, the speaker asked that we take 4 minutes and write about an authentic "voice" in our life that REALLY impacts us. I wrote about my father.
As his voice begins to vanish and be destroyed by this terrible disease, I think back to my childhood. The days when I hung on his every word even when he made me angry. I remember the days of being a teenager when everything would go wrong and he would say to me, "Don't get so excited !" His words were often few, but powerful. "Get back on that horse!", he yelled as I lay on the ground from being thrown off. He knew I needed to get back on that horse and not give up. Then, there was the day he and my mother left me in South Carolina, the furthest I had ever been from home and his parting words were, "See Ya !" Words no longer are coming easy for my father, but one thing has never changed, the words I can hear are "I Love You!"
recommend this
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 11
I think it is wonderful that it is your Father's voice that has impacted your life. Wonderful article.
I have a friend from church and her Mother is in a care center now. She does not talk or know anyone. It is sad. My friend was crying the other day. The only thing that came to my mind to say was "Your Mother was and still is making a difference in people's lives. Even though she does not talk, she does still smile. I know that a smile goes a long ways"
My friend said that just thinking of her mother in those terms helped her to deal with the pain and stress of seeing her mother like she is.
Your Father must be a wonderful man.
Beautiful, Karen.