The Letter

Hi Dad

Sorry it's been so long but I've been busy. Anyway I was just thinking about you. It's been raining and I remembered all those stories from when I was a kid. The rain has come down in ways that you described to us while sitting under the porch overhang with the screen around it. I couldn't help but smile as I thought about how I now tell those same stories to my kids and now they tell theirs.

It's been a light rain today. The kind where you would say "The Angels are weeping with Joy over the new Heavenly voice in the choir" or "Mother Nature decided to water her tree's and plants. When she does that she doesn't mind sprinkling our garden for us and our lawn". It's been that kind alright with those light winds that never drive the rain. The kind where I used to run off the porch and splash the puddles but could get back to the porch and not be soaked through. I can't help smiling when I think of those times.

Now yesterday we had the storms where you told us "The Gods must be bowling. You see how those clouds light up but no lighting is coming down" and then when we did start to see lighting come down you told us "Time to go inside. Looks like the loser pulled a sword. That lighting happens when their swords clash together and spark. Can't sit and watch the clouds without risking getting hurt so get inside".

I even thought about how when I got older you took me aside and said "Men aren't suppose to cry but if you ever need to then do it when you can walk in the rain. You can look up and let it wash the tears away or look down like your watching where you walk. Either way you chose it can help to hide the tears and wash the sadness away. A good rain is good for that and also for cleansing the soul".

I even followed that advice and I did it today when I got to thinking about you. I miss you Dad. I miss the talks we had about life. I miss playing catch and I miss fishing with you an your outrageous stories of the one that got away. It's been to long since we did those things together. So I took your advice and went for a walk in the rain to hide my tears of joy and sadness. It's why I'm writing you this letter.

I don't think I ever thanked you enough growing up. The wisdom, the strength, the courage, the stories, and your belief in me. How well I turned out is because of you. My success in life comes from always making sure to never do anything that wouldn't make you proud. It comes from treating others as I wish to be treated and the lessons on enjoying life. So I just had to say Thank You for all that you've given me.

Anyway except for missing you everything has been OK. The job, the family, and everything has been great. No complaints or anything like that. Just happy memories brought on by the rain. Funny how that works.