Grammys Corgi Country

Today was a day of remembering… My dad passed away 39 years ago today and I usually get nostalgic on this day or around it every year. As I mentioned before in another of my blogs, this year especially has been getting me, because the dates all fell on the same days as they did in 1969.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day that year and the next day was mostly pretty good too. As we were all in the kitchen cleaning up, my mom who was not very demonstrative, suddenly turned to my dad who was sitting at the kitchen table and said, “I love you so much!” Everyone knew that, of course, but I guess she had never really verbalized using those words because he broke down and said, “Now I can die happy, because you finally TOLD me you loved me…” and then they hugged.

Later, that Friday, I had a fight with my dad because I wanted to go to a movie and he wanted to just sit and watch TV. I ended up going (I was 17 years old and stubborn) and when I got back late that evening, his bedroom door was closed, so I didn’t get to say goodnight to him or take him his ice water like I’d done every night for years. The next morning, my mom couldn’t get him to open his door and woke me up to go around the outside and open a window to check on him, and he had passed away during the night.

I tell you all this because, especially at this time of year, I KNOW that it is very important that we take the time to tell those we love them, that we DO love them. Each day that you spend with your loved ones is a blessing and a very special gift. You NEVER know what is going to happen the next hours or a day from now.

Of course, now I know, at least in my head and usually in my heart, that my dad knew that I loved him and he forgave me for that last fight, but that stupidity on my part will always cause some pain.

Take a lesson from me and don’t lose what might be your last chance to say “I love you…”

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