Monday, July 27, 2009

This rides for you Angelo!


So, this week I am spending some time with my family….my children and my parents. It is our annual pilgrimage to church camp in the mountains of Pennsylvania. We spend 10 days together. I spend my time going to church, watching the children play and watching my children try to pair up...I have teenagers….I spend most of my time keeping my eye on them.

Well, this week has been a little different….my dad got a call this afternoon that his dear friend Angelo had passed away. This is one of my dad’s dearest friends. He and Angelo have been friends for 70 years….since they were 6 years old. They spent many days in their youth playing together. As they grew older and married, they ended up moving to the same town. They were hunting buddies….taking a yearly trip somewhere exotic to slay the big game. As they grew older, they were gun buddies…always looking for a good deal on a gun to purchase or sell. They also loved to watch baseball games together…specifically, the Tribe.

Well, it's been an interesting day as I have watched my dad mourn his friend. I know how I would mourn a dear friend, but I am a woman. How does my dad, a tough guy, a hunting guy, mourn his lifelong friend? Well, he sat silently for a while…then he got in his golf cart and he drove off slowly….a few minutes later he drove by with a cart full of children. He had gone out to the home of a couple who has two mentally handicapped children and asked if he could take these children on a golf cart ride. He spent the afternoon giving each one a ride all over the campground. Their faces were glowing with excitement.

I sat and watched and wondered what that did for my dad’s hurting soul….

1 comment:

  1. I love your dad. He turns his heartaches into positive energy...some positive accomplishment. He doesn't put feelings into words often, but he puts his feelings into positive action. I see this in "how" he shows you he loves you. He shows love alot...he doesn't always speak it. I am glad you recognize and see the love. I am glad you hear him in his acts of love.

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