I know him much better now than when he was alive. Understand his example and life lessons and find the ability to celebrate him much easier. He was an everyman. One of the blue collar faces in the crowd that the world barely noticed. Yet he touched hundreds. Those lucky enough to know him. In that regard, he was just like you.
He thought he was not that important. He was just an average guy making a living that was sometimes enough but usually too little to give his family and even himself what he wished he could. He blew some of it on his weaknesses and that tainted the very things the cigarettes and booze were supposed to provide. He conquered those weaknesses and then returned to them again in greater defeat. He struggled to bite his tongue when he wanted to give life the middle finger.
Buddy. More knew him by his nickname than his given name. He was bitter about those he did not know and loved those he did know. When he hated, he hated the bitterness of it. When he loved, he loved the depth of it. He had an attitude about life in that he did not like his attitude about life. He prayed over and over for one thing……that his children were happier than he was in life. He walked with contradiction in his heart, lived with hope for others in his soul, and died without knowing how well he was named. Buddy.
He loved family even when family didn’t love back. He knew his children needed him as a parent more than they did as friend. His door was open and his table ready for any in need. He owned his mistakes and forgave others theirs. He cheered for the little guy. He counted his family as blessings, his neighbors as family, and his friends as neighbors. He shared what he had. He was content with simple things and loved to dance.
Those that knew him, miss him. Those that didn’t, missed out. He was my father and I am damn lucky that he was. He was the most human man I ever knew. I love him more now that I understand how good he was at life. Thanks, Dad.
No comments:
Post a Comment