One year ago today, my dad died.
It's not my intention to eulogize my dad here. He enjoyed getting to know some of you. He was a character, and I think the rest of you would've liked having met him. I wrote some words about him and posted some pics. If you're interested in understanding him a little more, I invite you to look here:
The weeks before and the months since my dad died have given me a crash course in something I mistakenly thought I already knew: how to say goodbye.
As the one most likely to Irish exit a party, goodbyes are not my favorite. There's always pressure to neatly wrap things up with words that sum up your time together while leaving the door open for the next time. So I tend to avoid goodbyes altogether.
This year drove home two things:
•Not all goodbyes are spoken.
•There isn't always a next time.
And that's OK.
Some of you have taught me there's no right way to grieve.
And you've taught me to say goodbye to those I'll never get to see again.
And you've taught me to say goodbye to those I'll get to never see again.
And two of you reacquainted me with this song, that says goodbye better than I ever could.
I'll be seeing you In all the old familiar places That this heart of mine embraces All day through
In that small café The park across the way The children's carousel The chestnut trees The wishing well
I'll be seeing you In every lovely summer's day In everything that's light and gay I'll always think of you that way
I'll find you in the morning sun And when the night is new I'll be looking at the moon But I'll be seeing you
I'll be seeing you In every lovely summer's day In everything that's light and gay I'll always think of you that way
I'll find you in the morning sun And when the night is new I'll be looking at the moon But I'll be seeing you.
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