I have so much to say. What a vulnerable and personal story of love, admiration your dad was tough. My uncle liberated concentration camps after the Bulge. He saw a lot of combat and feared he may not be admitted to heaven. I’m sure he was. He never spoke of the war until near the end of his life. One of my best friends was a Vietnam pilot shot down. He is 84 and still has shrapnel seeping out of his ass and back 60 years later. His personality can be described as surly. Finally after my dad died my wife and I were leaving his condo and saw two shooting stars side by side as we were driving. We both asked the other if we saw it. Cindy had never seen a shooting star before. I e seen many, as a kid I spent my summers at my cousins in the country. There were about 15 of us that used to lay out and watch the night sky every night laying next to each other. I saw many shooting stars including them follow one after another. I’ve been in wilderness areas with no light pollution and always try to watch the stars. All that to say I’ve never seen two shooting stars so bright, so low in the sky and side by side. It was my Dad joining my Mom and letting us know they are together. Love is a strong bond. They were married 55 years. She died from cancer 16 years before. The night before he died in the morning, he was blind and primarily communicated by squeezing my hand. The last thing he did before falling asleep was kiss my mother’s picture and clearly say “I love you baby”. Your story touched me in so many ways. You’re a gifted writer. Two last things. Your Dads war experience was horrific. It was (and still is) inhuman what other men will do to others. I’m grateful you saw your Dad. It was a touch of goodness in his life. He lived his hell on earth and I’d like to think God welcomed him and provided relief in heaven. My final comment is to reserve telling you about sleeping in my car on the west side of Teton and watching the stars all night move across the sky
Thank you Dan, for sharing your stories too. We've all been touched by the ravages of war. Our fathers didn't talk much about their experiences, and I wish they could have. I want to hear about your night in the Tetons--those are probably my favorite mountains. The area is magical. I promise to come to Dayton.
Wow. I'm crying remembering my dad passing. He was in Vietnam and talked more about it in his later years. Thank you for writing and sharing your story of love.
I have so much to say. What a vulnerable and personal story of love, admiration your dad was tough. My uncle liberated concentration camps after the Bulge. He saw a lot of combat and feared he may not be admitted to heaven. I’m sure he was. He never spoke of the war until near the end of his life. One of my best friends was a Vietnam pilot shot down. He is 84 and still has shrapnel seeping out of his ass and back 60 years later. His personality can be described as surly. Finally after my dad died my wife and I were leaving his condo and saw two shooting stars side by side as we were driving. We both asked the other if we saw it. Cindy had never seen a shooting star before. I e seen many, as a kid I spent my summers at my cousins in the country. There were about 15 of us that used to lay out and watch the night sky every night laying next to each other. I saw many shooting stars including them follow one after another. I’ve been in wilderness areas with no light pollution and always try to watch the stars. All that to say I’ve never seen two shooting stars so bright, so low in the sky and side by side. It was my Dad joining my Mom and letting us know they are together. Love is a strong bond. They were married 55 years. She died from cancer 16 years before. The night before he died in the morning, he was blind and primarily communicated by squeezing my hand. The last thing he did before falling asleep was kiss my mother’s picture and clearly say “I love you baby”. Your story touched me in so many ways. You’re a gifted writer. Two last things. Your Dads war experience was horrific. It was (and still is) inhuman what other men will do to others. I’m grateful you saw your Dad. It was a touch of goodness in his life. He lived his hell on earth and I’d like to think God welcomed him and provided relief in heaven. My final comment is to reserve telling you about sleeping in my car on the west side of Teton and watching the stars all night move across the sky
Thank you Dan, for sharing your stories too. We've all been touched by the ravages of war. Our fathers didn't talk much about their experiences, and I wish they could have. I want to hear about your night in the Tetons--those are probably my favorite mountains. The area is magical. I promise to come to Dayton.
Wow. I'm crying remembering my dad passing. He was in Vietnam and talked more about it in his later years. Thank you for writing and sharing your story of love.
Thank you Darlene.
Absolutely crushing - but simultaneously, moments to treasure and remember that streak across the sky...
Beautiful