He’ll Be There

The fourth of July was my dads favorite day of the whole year. The parade, the way this once small town that has grown so large but somehow felt small again. The food, the endless games of 42, the beer, cigars and bs’ing with friends until the sun went down and fireworks lit up the sky. Watching him enjoy this day where he wasn’t worried about work or life, where he had his family and best friends with him all day long made this day my favorite as well.

It’s been 5 years since he’s been gone and this day has never been the same. I wish he hadn’t taken my favorite day with him, I wish that the void that he left wasn’t so large. I wish that I could go to the same places and do the same things and not feel such a huge loss.

Last night a beautiful red cardinal sat on my back fence, it’s been said that when you see a cardinal it’s an angel visiting you. My dad would never miss a fourth of July celebration and I know that today as I attend the parade and the same party with the same people we’ve been with for 35 years, he’ll be there. He’ll be there as the guys play countless games of 42, he’ll be there as we eat homemade ice cream, he’ll be there as the prayer is said before the meal and as the first flash of fireworks light up the sky, he’ll be there.