Monday, February 6, 2017

Story of an Amazing Father--R.I.P. Dad...xxx, jason

THANK YOU everyone for your kind words and thoughts over the last week for my family as we celebrated and said good-bye to my father. My mother was so touched when I shared your messages from around the world with her. Some of you she's met, or read about. Others I shared which part of my life you are a part of.
I share with you one story to show how extraordinary my father was. It is something new that I learned about him on Monday.
Last Sunday when he died, that night I caught a glimpse of his handwriting. The writer in me felt bittersweetness. I wished that I had a note in his handwriting, just to me, to keep me comfort as life goes on.
All my brothers' and my cards over the years were always signed by mom, for both, and the sentiments she expressed were equally felt from both. But still I wished I had his words in his handwriting. It wasn't meant to be and it would never be I told myself as I began to accept that.
The next day my mother told me my father had some letters for me, and my brothers, in his "important" papers folder. Some addressed individually to each of us and some to us as brothers, even one to Joe. As my father had begun doing this at least 25 years ago, long before Joe died. Every few years he wrote us one, from what we can tell since 1992.
I was floored. He was a writer. And had been making a wish I did not known I had--until Sunday--come true. I will save and spread them out over the years and read when I feel I need a father's words.
Thank you Dad, I am so deeply grateful. Thank you for creating and reminding me there is still magic in the world, even at a time of such sadness as we say good-bye...xxx, jason