Dear Dad,
I can’t begin to tell you how much you are missed, but also how much you are here with us, your wife and four children. We all feel your spirit here constantly. I just posed the question to my siblings, who do you think was Dad’s favorite child? The quick and simple answer was you were your own favorite, but then we looked closer into it. We are each some manifestation of the best life you hoped to achieve. Marco has become a dedicated husband, father, handyman, orchid specialist, and ballroom dancer. Omar, also a great husband and father, is now a social worker, just like you. Also he is involved with philanthropy and service. Libby is now a doctor, something you had no idea she would go back to university later to do. Being the parent of an MD must feel great. They have all found amazing spouses and when you weren’t there for Libby’s wedding Omar walked her down the aisle and Marco did the Daddy/Daughter dance. We are the best of friends now, which I hope makes you and Mom smile.
When you died, I didn’t even have a passport.Today, I have spent the past five years living and working abroad. I’ve visited 34 countries, lived in 5 and am preparing to travel solo to the other side of the Earth for six months. Many people don’t understand my choices, but I know you would have. You would have loved to hear about me in the Himalaya, trekking 13 days to see Everest. You would love to hear about me seeing Dresden, a city you talked about from your time in the military, with the Frauenkirche you remember in ruins now fully reconstructed. I think you would have been so proud of me living in the Holy Land for the past two years. Maybe you would have come to visit, at 75 years old. I’d set you up with a good tour bus of retirees. Wish you were here 🙂
Tu Hija,
Justine
Would you like to be featured here? Have something you want to tell someone? Email all submissions to sarah@paperinkandpassports.com. Letters will be published as I receive them 🙂