Yesterday was the 14th anniversary of my Dads passing.

When I think about the day before he passed I have such a beautiful memory.

It was just him and I hanging out, we talked, we laughed a few times he had his lunch and as I was going to leave I will never forget I stopped at the time, I didn’t know why. But somehow I turned around and I looked at him with him looking right at me and I walked back in and had what I now think of as the last special moment in my life with him.

I didn’t know that would be the last moment but I am SO Thankful I had it!

So if you get the chance take that extra time with the ones you love.

In my mind I know he is gone, in my heart I pretend like he’s not. The pictures I have and the old wrestling shows I can watch are priceless. Keep your memories hold onto them there is no specific time for grief and grieving. Because as time goes on we realize they are not coming back, they are not walking through the door, they are not picking up that phone. But the memories that we have of them no one can take away from us they are ours to keep forever.

So I hit the 13 year mark without my Dad.

It doesn’t even seem real actually, I still think about him often m, sometimes I picture him down the basement of my parents house on the phone doing his work, I think about how I wish I could call him just to hear his voice.

When you lose someone it doesn’t really matter how many years go by, they are always in your thoughts and continue to be, knowing that he’s been gone for 13 years makes me stop and think just how precious life is, how I’ve been on this earth for an additional 13 years or how my beautiful Mother has been on this earth for additional 13 years.

It’s something I have learned not to take for granted. I will continue to thank God every day for the special memories I had with my wonderful father and honor his memory, by helping anyone that may be going through this that needs someone to talk to you or maybe even something like this to read to make them realize that it’s OK to still be grieving it’s OK to feel the way you’re feeling honor yourself every day and feel what you feel.

12 years ago today. I spent the day with my father. He was going to be leaving the Cleveland Clinic to a step down unit where he would be for about a day or 2 and then HOME! We had such a nice time together. It’s was just him and I. Which usually someone else was usually there.

We talked I combed his still very thick beautiful hair he wasn’t thrilled about his lunch tray. But he got a chocolate chip cookie and I thought well at least he would eat that. But instead he said

Leave it for : My Boy : that was Blake.

That was his boy. The relationship they shared was like No other. It was a very special bond. I am So very Thankful that he and My Son had that. I Thank God every day. Because I didn’t get to Thank him……,

Right before I left. As I was walking out the door I turned around ……I also Thank God for that My Dad and I shared a To myself Heartfelt Moment as I walked back over to Him and said to him it’s okay Dad. For years after that those last minutes with him before I left helped me with my unbearable pain.

So to the Wonderful Man I was Blessed to have been able to call my Dad : Pappy :

Thank you for Everything you Did and gave to me in my life. All your sacrifices and love. I Miss you Everyday and I know you are near me. : The Birds :

Love your little girl. Laura Donna.

When you lose your Dad you lose a part of your heart.

When you lose your Dad you question everything…

When you lose your Dad you wish you would have had more time.

If you have your Dad. Pick up the phone get in your car tell him just how much he means to you.

Don’t wait.