Thursday, September 27, 2012

THE LONG ROAD HOME

Hey, dear friends! I apologize for my long absence from blog-world.  Our trip back to Texas was a long one full of obstacles, twists, and turns, including a defunct a/c on the U-Haul truck! But we finally made it. We made it back to the vast prairie and big sky. We made it back to our favorite foods, Texas Rangers baseball  on TV every night, and the August heat that seers through your skin. Most of all we made it back to our family and friends.

 
Upon our arrival my mom and dad met us in our new town and we were lucky enough to spend  time with them looking around and familiarizing ourselves with our new community. The following weekend we were able to go to their house and make them a simple Saturday night dinner of cheese grits and shrimp.

We had a wonderful time of conversation and laughter. It was awesome to do what so many may take for granted...spend quality family time together. Little did we know when we hugged them good-bye it would be the last time we would see my Daddy alive. The following Wednesday afternoon my Dad had a sudden massive stroke and passed away.


Now, five weeks later, I still feel like the wind has been knocked out of me. I feel like everyone can see the giant hole in my heart.

In my previous post I wrote about how bittersweet it was to leave WA for TX. Bittersweet.

Our son used this same expression in his tribute to his grandfather, 
"Over the past few days, while we scrambled to stabilize and grieve, I keep expecting him to offer me something to drink. I would probably say a polite, “No, thank you PaPa” to which he would respond by listing off all the beverages currently available in the fridge, all the beverages in the pantry, and everything he could go get at Wal-mart.

 
I would respond with a “No, really, I’m fine.” And he would tell me to reconsider and temptatiously tell me he was going to have a glass of half sweet tea and half unsweet tea and he’d be more than happy to make me some. He always liked his tea like that. Not too bitter not too sweet. This gathering is like that tea. It is unavoidably bitter to have lost someone who loved us so much and whom we loved so much, but also this is a sweet celebration his incredible life of Love." 


So this post will simply be a bittersweet tribute to my wonderful Daddy, the original JUNKER, in my life. 

My dad was a child of the Great Depression, the youngest of five children born to cotton share-croppers in a small Oklahoma town. 



He was a strong Christian man who literally prayed for everyone and would happily give you the shirt off his back. He was the only one in his family to earn a university degree. He read to my brothers and I every night no matter how exhausted he was, often laughing so hard at the stories he read that he cried. He never missed a sunrise or sunset or the awe of nature. He sang constantly or played his harmonica. He could recite "Little Danny Donkey" from his third grade play and taught it to all three of us. He also taught us to play dominoes, horse-shoes, and basketball. He never allowed me to "sissy out" of sports and expected me to hold my own against he and my brothers...which I did, most of the time. He made biscuits from scratch and taught me how to also. He told us his childhood stories and they grew in our imaginations so vividly that we thought everyone knew about his hunting adventures with his dog, Popeye, or about how heart-broken he was when he had to sell his prize bull, Midnight.




My Daddy was a great fix-it guy. He used a lot of WD40, duct tape, and prayers...and he fixed, mended, and held together a lot of stuff and a lot of other people's lives. He showed me how you could go to the junk store and put together a perfectly good bicycle. Who cares that it didn't have a banana seat or cool handle bars--it was sturdy and would take me wherever I wanted to go.


My Daddy was my hero in so many ways.



So in tribute to my Daddy, I raise a glass of half sweet/half unsweet tea and hope to always remember everything he taught us: especially to treat others as you want to be treated, work with what you have or create what you need, and always keep your priorities straight. Last, but not least: love God, love your family, and share your laughter with everyone you meet.




Peace, love, and all the good stuff, y'all.

11 comments:

  1. What a touching post. Dads are so special and I still miss mine every day, even though he passed away 23 years ago.

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    1. Thanks, Cat--Yes, dads are special--and it sounds like you were blessed to have an awesome dad too. Thanks for your sweet words. xxoos

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  2. Just beautiful, Lisa. So sorry for your loss. What a legacy of love!
    xoxo
    Pam

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    1. Hey, Pam--Thank you...and yes, you phrase it perfectly--a legacy of love! xxoos

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  3. Awe Lisa, such a sweet tribute to a man that most definately was so loved! and I'm assuming he also taught you how to write the best stories. My heart is happy to read such a sweet tribute but sad at the same time. I hope to see you this next week to give you a big hug but if not I'll just send many hugs your way.

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    1. Hey, Sweet T--Thank you for your kind words and good thoughts. I sincerely appreciate it and I'm looking forward to seeing you on Tuesday for that big hug! :) xxoos

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  4. I just cant stop the tears while reading this sweet beautiful tribute to your Dad. Thank you for sharing this with us and i'm honored to be a part of this tribute. I am praying for you and your family in these hard weeks. What a relief to know that he was a Christian man and that you will see him again one day in Heaven. God Bless.

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    1. Hey, Holli--Thank you so much for your good thoughts and prayers. It has been such a mixed blessing of bitter and sweet. My parents would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary three days later...so it's especially difficult for my mom. My prayers and thoughts are also with you--I know you've recently lost some dear friends too. And yes...the only thing that makes it bearable is that we picture him RUNNING to Jesus singing loudly! :D
      Blessings to you too, dear friend. xxoos

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  6. Lisa, my heart is with you and your sweet memories of your dad. What beautiful words you have shared. Thank you for sharing this tender spot of your heart. The love you share is so evident and vibrant and real. That's the gift of love God has given us. So thankful to know your dad knew his Savior and that your faith is in the Living God! I look forward to hugging your sweet neck in a month! much love. Tracy

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    1. Hey, Tracy--Thank you, sweet friend for your kind words. Yes, Dad truly lived up to his name and shared God's love with everyone he met. Not a day goes by that I don't miss him, but I know he's in a Heavenly place now. I look so forward to seeing you and Suzanne and everyone at the big ole Barn Sale next month! xxoos

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