If you had one day

with someone who's gone... Who would it be? What would you do? This question was posed by Mitch Albom who wrote a story in this weeks Sunday PARADE. I didn't get a chance to talk with Tim about it, but I was thinking about it when I went to bed last night and just had to get something down on paper (or computer).

For me, it would be my dad. My dad loved to read, hunt, fish, take walks/ride his truck on long country roads, watch tv & laugh and try/make new foods. He had a lot of interests and particularly the natural outdoors. He loved wildlife and loved his family (gee, is there a connection?)

First thing I'd do is give him a big hug, have him help me make some biscuits with fresh strawberries, and afterwards take a simple walk or drive in the woods where we would talk, joke and laugh (sharing a candy bar or slim jim.) I'd show him photographs that I've taken over the years. He loved photography and was quite good.

I'd bring him to my home to show him my children (so they could hug and kiss him and make him pictures & sit on his lap), I'd have Tim build a fire in the fireplace so that we could sit around and share a tall glass of beer and talk some more. I hope that he'd be proud of me and my family.


I can still hear his laughing coming out of the bedroom while he was watching Seinfeld or some other sitcom. My mom and I would look at each other, shake our heads, and start laughing too.

I adored him..his sense of wonder, his sense of humor, his gentleness...

Like the author says, when it comes to someone we miss, we desperately want one more familiar meal, even one more argument. What does this teach us? This teaches us the ordinary is precious. That the normal day is a treasure.

I love you dad.