thirty seven years
tagging along
trying to keep up
wanting to be just like him
match my steps to his
stretching my stride
struggling to follow his lead
mirroring his moves
his likes his words his deeds
he was my role model
gone sixteen years
still trying to walk
in the paths he made
always struggling
to match my steps to his
Photo taken in 1955, the year my parents were married. Daddy has been gone sixteen years, his face is still as vivid in my memory as it was five minutes after he walked out the door on the way to work when I was a kid. He was a small man but cast a big shadow. I am still mindful of the lessons he taught, especially those learned by example during his eight year battle with leukemia. His dignity and grace during his illness, and his gratitude for anything we did to ease his suffering were humbling. A wonderful father and grandfather, a remarkable husband, a good neighbor, a friend in need and deed, both a sheep and a shepherd, a role model worthy of the title....
tears
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