In my life I was truly blessed with a dad who was wonderful.  His dying left a hole in my heart that will never heal and I look forward with great anticipation to the day that we are reunited.  That promise is a promise that I cling to with my entire being.  My dad grew up with one sister, but never had a brother.  I believe God had bigger plans when he blessed Dad with a brother of choice whom he loved with his entirety.  During the summers we would spend most every weekend at the closest local lake and we had friends from an hour the other direction who would spend their weekends at the lake too.  We sailed, swam, played, and did the All-American summer activities from the earliest time I can remember.  One evening while loading the boat in the dark I laid my pacifier on the bumper of the car and they drove off, so does that give you an idea how young I was?? That sad night is forever burned in my memory!  Jokingly,  we always referred to them as our “summer friends”!  It didn’t take long for them to turn into my parents best friends.  Many, many years of laughter and fun has given us memories for a lifetime, but that isn’t long enough.  Today, I am forced to let go…

Papa John was my dad’s kindred spirit, soul brother,  and life long confidant.  He was three years dad’s elder but closer than any other friend my dad ever had in his entire life.  When my dad had one of his “great ideas” John was the first in line to encourage his crazy schemes and be right next to him when it all came to fruition!  I have so many incredibly funny memories of John that my brain is swimming in laughter and tears; from Burn’s nights, to Gatherin’s, summers, winters, falls, festivals, parties, snowmobiling, he was a crazy funny man always ready for the adventure!!  No one could play “Smoke of the Water” like he could!!   Today,  I am saddened beyond measure because now the time has come for him to go Home.  While I know in my heart that the right thing to do is say my “good-byes”, my selfish heart wants to hang on tight, just like our last hug on July 7th.  Not today.  Today the brothers will be reunited and dancing the jig…..  I am thankful, blessed, lucky, grateful, whatever you would like to call it,  I am all of that.  The memories and the laughter is what I get to keep, he gets to take the love and I send every drop.  My love travels to Heaven again….. and my heart is left with yet another hole….

I hope he gives my dad a kiss from me…..

Sending the love and prayers …

Until then…..dance, raise your glass, pray

e

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