Sunday~ June 21st, 2009
I look down and my hand is doing that thing.
It’s resting on my lap in a curve.
Resting.
Dad, your hand was just this same way. I saw it.
I’ve seen it a lot. It was sitting there looking exactly like this.
Just like Grandpa. Your Dad.
The same. Curved.
The lanky fingers that grow thicker with time.
They curve on the lap and rest.
It’s like the unconscious way I run my finger across my lip like Glenn when I’m nervous. Or how I grab the bottom of my shirt and rub my thumb across the fabric, like Helen. It’s the way I care like Elsie and understand like Colleen.
It’s the way I laugh like Sandi and cry like Kay.
Today I’m thankful that I carry you, all of you.
My family.
Today, mostly I’m thankful for you.
The man with the curved and rested hand and skin like leather
turned brown from the sun,
All the working in the sun.
The one who still says I’m the greatest
and falls in love with my boys
just the way that I do.
The man with the heart so big.
I carry my family.
I carry you.
I love you
Dad.
Happy Father’s Day.
{ 32 comments }
I know I say this a lot, but this was beautiful.
What a precious tribute to your father!
Oh, so lovely!
That was absolutely beautiful!
Beautiful as always!
Beautiful, beautiful, the way family shows up in our very marrow and bones.
Your writing is just gorgeous, as always~
Blessings~
Sometimes I read something like this and I just feel so sad for my little Tongginator, knowing she doesn't have nor is she likely to ever have that sense of continuity the rest of us take for granted.
Oh Heather, that was lovely…simply beautiful and heartfelt. You wanna hear something funny in a non ha ha way? I'm partially adopted. When I was 7, my stepfather adopted me and his mother and father became my grandparents and his sisters became my aunts. Sometimes I'll do something that reminds me so much of my Aunt Di or my Gram. I don't look a thing like them, but I still carry them. And of course I do see physical attributes in my of my mom and maternal grandparents, etc. And I love…especially on Father's Day…comparing all the similarities between my husband and our children.
Again, this was truly touching and I'm gonna pass it on.
Beautiful tribute to your whole family.
If he didn't cry, I did for him.
We surely are wherever we came from. Beautiful.
Beautiful tribute, what a perfect way to honor your Dad.
Angela – Thank you for saying that. I think it's more true that we repeat these things because we're around our family a lot and start emulating them. Maybe we do some things because of our genes, lots of things, I'm sure. But these small little things are so often a result of time spent. And I love that.
Awesome Heather. So true. I love the way we see our families in ourselves and our kids.
Super-sweet, Heather.
I love those little nuances of family that I can see in myself. Then again, sometimes I despise them. But your post was a good one, reminding me of good things.
what a beautiful tribute to your Dad!
Gorgeous. I love all those little details.
What a beautiful post Heather!!
Beautiful Heather. I love when I notice myself doing things that my family members do.
Have a lovely day my friend!
Such a touching post.
What a wonderful poem. I hope your father was able to enjoy it for dad's day. I also hope that your husband had a wonderful day yesterday. Happy Monday.
This is lovely. :)
Beautifully said as always.. It made me think of my own Dad. We're so lucky to have such good Dad's, aren't we?
Heather, you always make me cry. Thank you.
You are so blessed to have such a wonderful father in your life all these years… and it sounds like he's blessed to have you and your boys in his! What a special tribute you've written for him!
Roban
you know how hard it is to draw a tear from an old baby boomer, we,re not allowed. You,re one of the few who have done it. Thank you. You are the greatest. Love You
Heather, you are a wonderful woman.
Beautiful!
That was lovely Heather!
What a nice tribute to your dad!
I loved this….what a wonderful tribute to your dad! and your family!
My stars, friend! This is gorgeous. I cried the whole way through it. You have a gift. A beautiful, precious gift.
Aw, this is beautiful . . .
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