My Whole World Stopped

"One person can be the light that carries you through life."

~Mama Hen

I can remember that day so vividly when my Daddy passed away twelve years ago. My whole world stopped! I was doing my internship for teaching and I happened to wear a pretty skirt that day to school. On my way home something told me to stop an exit early off the highway and visit my Dad's office so he could see me dressed up. I am a bit of a tomboy and love wearing comfortable clothes. I knew my Dad would get a kick out of me looking all dolled up (yikes, the tears are coming down as I write this post). I can remember the sun filtering through the windows into his bright office. I walked in and like always ran to him for a hug saying, "Daddy, I love you!" He was such a light in my life and whenever we would see one another my face would beam with happiness. That particular day was a very special one for my father, because he had worked so hard to start up a new bank (which today is very successful) and he was being honored at a banquet that evening. He asked me if I would sit and listen to his speech. Being the typical young self consumed kid I normally would have said, not now Daddy, I need to go. However, that day I sat down with such an eagerness to hear him practice his speech. I starred at him with awe and love and such a proud feeling within. He kept looking at me with such a huge smile as he spoke. I couldn't stop eyeing his cuff links. They were a beautiful light blue stone and I kept thinking about how cute my Daddy was to match his tie so nicely with his cuff links. While doing his speech he cracked a joke and asked me what I thought of it. He said, "The people are really going to like this one" with a radiant smile and giggle as he said it. When he was done I praised him and gave him the biggest hug. I wished him well and I went home.

That night I was with a friend of mine out to dinner. I kept complaining that my heart hurt and I felt sad. I told her I did not know why. I went on and on about feeling so much pressure in my chest and sad. When I got home the phone rang. It was my godmother. She said something happened to my Dad and that she would pick me up and take me to him. I screamed and cried all the way to the hospital. No one told me he had passed away (from a heart attack). When I saw him I asked why he was asleep. Talk about traumatic. I won't go on because it is so very sad and I went through a very difficult time after that.

What I wanted to share in this post was how God gave me the greatest gift of being able to see my Daddy one more time and to really be there for him and listen to his speech. I will never forget his smile as he gave his speech to me in his office. He was so incredibly important in my life and I see so much of him in Little Chick. Believe it or not, he died while cracking that silly joke during his speech! That is my Daddy! Making people smile all the way to the end!