Open Letter to Mom - The Sequel
Dearest Mom;
It's been over a year since you left us. God we miss you. We've begun the process of moving on...and it hasn't been all easy...but you raised and taught us well.
The kids are doing ok. They miss you a ton...especially Billy...but they still laugh and smile and when Brookie starts getting mischievous I swear that grin she gets...that's yours. You're still a presence Mom...and I don't see that ending anytime soon.
I'm writing though from an airplane...because what you told me would happen has. I'm flying home from Sun City AZ...where I just spent the last week and a half getting Dad setup. It was an amazing road trip Mom...and I found myself thinking a lot about the trip we took across country in 1987. Dad and I had a blast. We kinda...pushed it. As in forgetting we stayed in Joplin MO the second night of our trip in 87...so figured we could make it from Greenfield IL to Amarillo TX in 12 hours. The answer is...NO it can't be done...(if you stop, eat, gas up, fart...) It was a bit much and we stayed on the other side of Amarillo...but made it to Uncle Lee's the next day. We left Sunday and arrived on a Tuesday...that's frigging sick. We unloaded and got Dad settled in quick.
He's good. We even made sure you were taken care of. We belted you into your seat in the van and made sure you didn't shift (granted...you were on a tow trailer...) :)
So Dad's ok. He's gonna play music now. Find his chapter 2. It was an inspiring trip Mom. We had great talks...laughs. Then when we got there...well...let's just say if I didn't go...they'd be watching TV probably using rabbit ears and using an internet connection slightly faster than Dialup. But beyond that...I also had a blast with them. Dad's in good hands now Mom.
I did what you asked Mom. For the last year...while I did DO things...I took care of Dad. There wasn't a decision I made that didn't have him as a factor. I was out a lot...I was doing things...but I paid attention.
I'm so happy for him right now Mommy. He's alive again. He played yesterday...and it was INSPIRED. It wasn't musically awesome...(it wasn't bad...but there are kinks)...but you never cared about that much. I said it to Dad...but when he was up there playing..and I was snapping pictures...I stopped...because all of a sudden I thought I could feel you there smiling and wiggling. I got teared up actually. He started to 'come alive' again. After a year of sitting him in his chair...in the pose he had all those years you needed him to (of sitting in his chair with a laptop on his belly) like he was waiting for you to ask him for something. He was like a firefighter standing guard at the fire station of a ghost town. Now Mom...he's...well...I think he's more like the man you fell in love with. He's determined again. He has hope. Ideas...he's being creative. It truly sets an example for me.
Which leads me to me. I find myself in the same position as Dad now. There's still healing I think for me to do now. I need to find what I like again. Who and what I want to be. I'm looking forward to it. I've tried a few things and I have a list of other things. I'm gonna get back to my guitar. I want to write the song that's been in my head (no Dad...not THAT one)...and I think I want to start that novel. I may even go back to school.
Mom I do miss you everyday. I was your bestest bestest bestest. You'll be a part of the rest of my life. You're still one of my favorite topics of conversation...and Dad's.
Thank you for being my Mom. I thank God every day for you and Dad being my parents. I'm a good man...and that's in no small part to what you've done.
I'll always love and miss you Mommy...
Your eldest and best son;
Will
*Thanks for Reading...
It's been over a year since you left us. God we miss you. We've begun the process of moving on...and it hasn't been all easy...but you raised and taught us well.
The kids are doing ok. They miss you a ton...especially Billy...but they still laugh and smile and when Brookie starts getting mischievous I swear that grin she gets...that's yours. You're still a presence Mom...and I don't see that ending anytime soon.
I'm writing though from an airplane...because what you told me would happen has. I'm flying home from Sun City AZ...where I just spent the last week and a half getting Dad setup. It was an amazing road trip Mom...and I found myself thinking a lot about the trip we took across country in 1987. Dad and I had a blast. We kinda...pushed it. As in forgetting we stayed in Joplin MO the second night of our trip in 87...so figured we could make it from Greenfield IL to Amarillo TX in 12 hours. The answer is...NO it can't be done...(if you stop, eat, gas up, fart...) It was a bit much and we stayed on the other side of Amarillo...but made it to Uncle Lee's the next day. We left Sunday and arrived on a Tuesday...that's frigging sick. We unloaded and got Dad settled in quick.
He's good. We even made sure you were taken care of. We belted you into your seat in the van and made sure you didn't shift (granted...you were on a tow trailer...) :)
So Dad's ok. He's gonna play music now. Find his chapter 2. It was an inspiring trip Mom. We had great talks...laughs. Then when we got there...well...let's just say if I didn't go...they'd be watching TV probably using rabbit ears and using an internet connection slightly faster than Dialup. But beyond that...I also had a blast with them. Dad's in good hands now Mom.
I did what you asked Mom. For the last year...while I did DO things...I took care of Dad. There wasn't a decision I made that didn't have him as a factor. I was out a lot...I was doing things...but I paid attention.
I'm so happy for him right now Mommy. He's alive again. He played yesterday...and it was INSPIRED. It wasn't musically awesome...(it wasn't bad...but there are kinks)...but you never cared about that much. I said it to Dad...but when he was up there playing..and I was snapping pictures...I stopped...because all of a sudden I thought I could feel you there smiling and wiggling. I got teared up actually. He started to 'come alive' again. After a year of sitting him in his chair...in the pose he had all those years you needed him to (of sitting in his chair with a laptop on his belly) like he was waiting for you to ask him for something. He was like a firefighter standing guard at the fire station of a ghost town. Now Mom...he's...well...I think he's more like the man you fell in love with. He's determined again. He has hope. Ideas...he's being creative. It truly sets an example for me.
Which leads me to me. I find myself in the same position as Dad now. There's still healing I think for me to do now. I need to find what I like again. Who and what I want to be. I'm looking forward to it. I've tried a few things and I have a list of other things. I'm gonna get back to my guitar. I want to write the song that's been in my head (no Dad...not THAT one)...and I think I want to start that novel. I may even go back to school.
Mom I do miss you everyday. I was your bestest bestest bestest. You'll be a part of the rest of my life. You're still one of my favorite topics of conversation...and Dad's.
Thank you for being my Mom. I thank God every day for you and Dad being my parents. I'm a good man...and that's in no small part to what you've done.
I'll always love and miss you Mommy...
Your eldest and best son;
Will
*Thanks for Reading...
Location:35000 Feet above TN
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