WARNING: Today's post may ramble - and might be emotional.
First some business - today I did 1.46 in 30 minutes. Slower than Tuesday - but I had other things on my mind as you'll soon see.
Thank you to all the commenters and posters on Tuesday - contrary to popular belief - I was still here too - just not posting a lot. As we get closer to Marathon Weekend - that'll change. Amanda - yes - I'll be there with you - celebrating!
Now.
Today is September 1.
And today is my dad's birthday. Or would have been. Or is. I honestly don't know which is proper. Or if it matters.
The fact is - he would have been 65 years old today.
And that got me thinking - he's been gone a year and a half now. He was only 63 years old when he died. It was too young. Too soon. Too early. And I look at my daughter and my heart breaks that he isn't here with her to see her grow.
I know that he sees her. I know he's with us.
But it's different. I mean - I can still talk to him - and do - but it's very one sided.
I choose on his birthday to remember him in his prime. In his 30s and 40s. Before the bypass. Before diabetes. Before the COPD.
He could make me smile and laugh with a smile, a joke, or just by being there.
He imparted to me the value of tradition - love - life. 
And of course - he shared with me some of the things I'd come to love as dearly as my own self through the years.And whether he enjoyed it or not - he never let me think he was doing anything but having a great time.
This was a man who celebrated every second of his life.And although I could talk about why it was too soon. And how weight affected him. And how I don't want to share his fate. And how I'm nowhere near half done with life at 33.....
Instead, for today at least, I choose to celebrate him. I choose to remember him.
And as I do every single day since February 25, 2010, I choose to miss him.
EPCOT AWAITS.
Sounds like a great way to remember your dad. You've already learned from your dad's life, and what parent wouldn't be pleased with that? My dad has outlived his dad and I know it wasn't easy for him for the first 20 years. I am like your Elizabeth. I wish I got to meet my grandpa. I never did. He was gone before I was adopted. In fact, there will be no grandparents standing up at our wedding (we already eloped, but we're throwing a Disney wedding for the family) for either of us. But we know they are proud of us.
ReplyDeletePS I'm starting the Galloway in october for the Princess 1/2 marathon!
ReplyDeleteNice mileage, slow is still good.
ReplyDeleteNice beautiful way to remember your Dad. :)
SO.. looks like I need to turn up the mileage!!
Have a great weekend!!
Good job on the miles Jonathan...Every mile coutns and remember with Galloway you should be training 1 to 3 minutes slower per mile than your goal race pace - so slow is okay!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your Dad - yes, it is still his birthday and yes, you can and should still celebrate it. Remember the good times, the love the life he lived and smile!