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By bwoz
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18 April 2007 |
During our last visit together, it was Thanksgiving; Dad said to me, “There has never been anything you kids have ever done to make me ashamed to be your father.” I don’t know why he said that just then, but I am glad he did. In March he became critically ill and we all flew home to be at his bedside the day before he died. We held his funeral three days later. My oldest brother told of a man, a Wyoming cowboy who had traveled the world, who could walk into any room in just about any country on this earth and find something he had in common with someone. He spoke about what it meant to be one of his sons; it meant you know how to shoot, handle a fly rod, clean a rabbit, throw a knuckle ball, and pour good bourbon. My cousin talked about how dad once pitched a no-hitter, in high school, and how amazing an accomplishment it is at any level of baseball; and he told us of a United States Air Force aviator, whose favorite poem was about sailing, written by an Englishman. My other brother told about the time dad took him fly fishing, and how when he caught a cut throat trout dad got so jumpy with excitement he could barely contain himself, and nobody had ever seen dad so giddy. My brother was the only person who ever did see him that excited. My sister told how dad loved the outdoors, and loved to cook, and about the way he always did what was right; how sometimes doing the right thing is not the popular choice, but it is always the right choice. I didn’t know what to say, so I read his favorite poem, “Crossing the Bar” by Alfred Lord Tennyson, the Englishman. Then I told a story about a rabbit hunting trip with dad when he lost his truck keys. Now I realize that I should have mentioned what he told me just a few months earlier. I wish I would have said how proud he was to be our father.
The U.S. Air Force Honor Guard fired a 21 gun salute in three volleys. His sons and oldest nephew rendered a soldier’s hand salute. The flag was folded into the traditional triangle of white stars on field of blue, with red and white stripes tucked inward. A young enlisted man with tears in his eyes presented the family with the folded flag and three shell casings. He said, “Your father was a great man and I am proud to present this flag on behalf of a grateful nation.” He didn’t even know my father and he had tears. We listened to Marty Robins sing “Streets of Laredo”. I looked around the room with a lump the size of a Buick in my throat, and I realized I still want to be like him.
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Written by Bottleblondesurfer (3295 comments posted) 18th April 2007 | I don't want to give a reasoned crit to this because my response to it was an emotional one so I'll just say how moved I was by it. It was full of genuine sentiment without becoming sentimental. OK ,I don't know the man but your obvious love for him shone through. It was a wonderfully written heartfelt piece. I found it uplifting too despite the occasion
cheers
Jane |
Written by Fledermaus (3238 comments posted) 18th April 2007 | | Moving indeed, and I bet your father could not have had a greater compliment than a son who wants to be like him. That's probably something no honor guard can beat. |
Written by anorwegianwood (278 comments posted) 18th April 2007 | Simply and thoughtfully written. There's a lot of emotion packed into these few words. The last line in particular is a very fitting ending.
~Claire |
Written by Witzl (1585 comments posted) 19th April 2007 | | Beautifully expressed. Fledermaus is right: it is hard to imagine a greater compliment to a father than a son who wants to be just like him. I like the list of all the things he taught you, too -- skills that not a lot of boys manage to learn nowadays. |
Written by Phil (6635 comments posted) 19th April 2007 | Lovely piece. When I finished a had a shiver run down my spine and a sigh in the back of my throat. It is an emotional piece, but not mawkish in any way - far from it.
A lovely epitaph.
Phil |
Written by Merioneth (79 comments posted) 16th April 2008 | | I'm choked up right now. I think further comment is unnecessary. | Heart felt thanks
Written by bwoz (125 comments posted) 16th April 2008 | Thank you all for your comments, and for understanding how great a man he was. Just like your fathers, I would guess. I think all boys want to be like their fathers at some point, but the fact that I still think of writing something, or of building something, or of taking some pictures that he will be proud of even now -- it haunts me.
This coming June our family will travel back to Wyoming, as was his wish, to take his ashes up to the Wind River mountains somewhere. He will be back in his element.
A lot of peoples' beliefs are at odds with creamation, that I know. But that too was his wish. It will cost us a lot to make the trip but I would gladly pay it twice to do something that would make my father proud.
Cheers.
BW |
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