28 Years

March 13, 1986 will be a day that I will never forget.  March 12, 1986 we went to bed, a mother, a father, 5 year old, 4 year old and a 18 month old.  24 hours later, we would go to bed a widow and three small children. 

I was in kindergarten and was out for Spring Break that week.  The morning of March 13, I woke up really early to find that my dad was in the bathroom and had been sick that morning.  I remember begging my dad not to go to work, but he did.  My mom got a phone call that no one ever wants to get.  My dad had been in a serious accident at work and was rushed to a near by hospital in Meridian, Mississippi.  My mom along with other family members made it to the hospital in time to see my dad before he passed away.  My mom was in her early 20's with three small children.  Wow, looking back, I'm not sure how she did it.  I remember one of my aunts holding me while I cried my eye's out, so many people coming in and out of our house bringing food and just to be there for us.  I was 5 and it was hard but I seem to struggle more as I have gotten older.  See, with me being so young, my dad missed KINDERGARTEN GRADUATION, MIDDLE SCHOOL DANCE, HIGH SCHOOL PROM'S, HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, COLLEGE GRADUATION, WALKING ME DOWN THE ISLE AND THE BIRTH OF MY SON.  Tying this is hard.  My eye's are filled with tears.  28 years later, I still cry myself to sleep sometimes, think of my dad every day, talk about him all the time and still hear funny stories about him.  People often tell me that the world needs more people like my dad.  He had a heart of gold and would give the shirt off his back or his last dollar to someone if they were in need.  I miss him so much. 

My mom remarried 2 years after my dad passed and we were lucky to have such a wonderful step-dad but I would give anything to still have my dad here with me.  I love you daddy and can't wait to the day that you meet me at the Golden Gates of Heaven.