The following was posted on April 28, 2007 - four years ago today. It is titled "36 Years and 18 days", and I'll let it stand for itself, no further explanation needed.
36 Years and 18 Days
At 36 years and 18 days of age, a man I wish today could be standing beside me was taken from this world. I carry his name, as does his grandson, who shares far more personality traits with his grandfather than he will ever know.
I was 13 at the time, almost 14. Losing the benefit of a father at that tender age is sobering, and daunting. A young man suddenly has thrust upon him the responsibilities of manhood; with no more footprints to follow.
So many years ago another man's 36th year & 18th day brought just another day. The day started by letting his son sleep a little later than normal, choosing to run the son's morning paper route on his own. As that day pushed back the previous night over his head, he made the rounds flipping papers onto little old ladies' porches so they wouldn't have to walk out to the street to get it. He visited friends and family that day while his son was in school. Later in the afternoon as his son was cutting grass, an alarm was sounded about town - FIRE! A conflagration had erupted, and this man along with many others had answered the calling to protect his neighbors. He saw his son that day, just once as that building burned violently. His son asked him a simple question, to which he shook his head with a simple "no" as he rounded the corner. Minutes later, with father and son no more than a few yards apart, the building finally gave in to the wishes of gravity and fell.
For me, my 36th year and 18th day is April 30, 2007. How will my 36th year and 18th day start? Will there be anything different? More importantly, how will the next day, 36 and 19 start? How will it feel to be older than the greatest man I ever knew? How strange will it be?
Where are the faint traces of old, worn footprints for me to follow?
No comments:
Post a Comment