Beyond the Sunset

My first thought today when I awoke was my Dad.  Today would have been his 88th birthday.  My Mom is still living and misses him so - gone now for eight years.  What a wonderful, loving life they lived... together... needing just the two of them... and being lost with out one another.  I will never forget the day of his funeral.  My son, Ryan, was giving the eulogy.  Ryan talked about being at his other grandfather's funeral and how odd he thought it was that Grandpa and Grandma were not there.  As they left the church to head to the cemetary, Ryan looked ahead and saw this older couple holding hands.  He thought to himself ... how cute... that is what I want someday... to be so in love with someone that still at the age of this older couple they still held hands.  Then, he realized...it was his Grandpa and Grandma. 

Happy Birthday, Dad.  There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of you and remember something from when I was a little girl ("skin the bunny" you use to say as you helped me out of my shirt into my pajamas to the day I was married to my first husband and as we stood ready to make the walk down the aisle you turned to me and said "it still isn't too late to change your mind").  Did you know something I didn't at that time?  I wonder.  As I am divorced from my first husband but out of that marriage of 17 years came two amazing children.  And at the wedding to my second husband Mom shared you always wanted to see me marry Jason.  Well, I did, Dad and my life is full and complete and I can't imagine a day without him. 

I love you, Dad.  Beyond the sunset....