My dad died Saturday, January 15 and we laid him to rest Wednesday, January 19, 2011. This story is dedicated to him and all of the fathers out there. Rarlan Vickers: born October 15, 1950; died January 15, 2011.
Last Goodbye
He walked through the snow on this gloomy day. It did not matter what kind of weather there was today, he would not miss this appointment. He finally reached his destination and sat down on an old wood bench that he and his brothers put there last year. He took his hat off and his red bandana flapped in the cold icy wind. He looked at the name written on the stone in front of him and felt the tears starting to form in his eyes. He did not stop them from reaching the corners of his eye and did not stop them when they started to fall to the ground. He was never the one to cry in front of anyone. He wanted everyone to think he was strong but when he came out here every year, it was the one place where he could let his guard down and cry without being judged. After a few moments he reached in his pocket and pulled out a necklace with a charm on it. The charm was in the shape of two crossed sais. He held it in his hand and looked at it. The tears still fell to the ground and for once he still did not care. After a moment he stood up and walked two steps and placed the necklace around the stone and sat back down on the bench and stared at the stone. He didn't know how long he had been sitting there but was in no hurry to get home. He came here with a purpose and he was going to finish what he started. He opened his mouth and began to speak from his heart.
"I miss you a lot. You were always there for me when I needed you. He taught me how to be a man and how to do the honorable thing. I know that I was hard to handle sometimes. My temper sometimes got in the way of seeing the right thing to do but you were always there to set me straight. Whenever I fell, you were always there to catch me. There was so much that I left unsaid and that is why I am here today. I wanted to tell you all of the things that I never got to tell you or that I was afraid to tell you. There will never be another person like you. You made sure I always had a roof over my head, food, and taught me how to stand for what is right. Most of all, you loved me, even with all of my faults, you still loved me. I will always miss you" he finished.
After a few more minutes he stood up and made his way back to the farm house. He could hear his brothers and friends talking and laughing in the distance. He turned back to look at the name written on the stone and smiled and then said
"Goodbye father"
The end