Six years...

It was a hot, sunny day...similar to today.  Summer activities were in swing and Kait thought it would be a fantastic year to join two softball leagues.  Mondays and Wednesdays were devoted to one league and Tuesdays and Thursdays to the other.  It was Wednesday, just like today.  Kait had a game in Templeton, so we didn't have to travel far.  I was home early and decided to throw some honey, mustard chicken into the crockpot for lunch on Thursday.  It was early, so I called dad and asked him if he wanted to come down for supper and then watch Kait play ball.  He was tired from working all day and said, "I'll be at the next one."  I told him I'd be bringing him lunch in the morning and we ended with the usual, "Uh-huh, yep."

Kait's game was amazing...a come from behind win in the bottom of the 7th with her scoring the game winning run!  What a way to end the night...or so we thought.

It was six years ago tonight that I was awaken by my cellphone ringing...for some reason the call wouldn't come through to our house phone.  It was my sister, "Dad's not breathing...you have to come."  I told David to stay with the kids, that I'd call him.  I regret that decision to this day.  I remember driving as fast as I could, but stuck in slow motion.  I slammed on my breaks after a deer popped up from the ditch.  The contents of my purse were now strewn amongst the floor.  A few miles later, I had to stop for a raccoon.  Really?  I just need to get there.  As soon as I walked in, I knew it wasn't good.  My aunt and uncle and sisters and brother were sitting in the waiting room with my mom.  Before long, they took us back and Dr. Carroll broke the news..."We did all that we could...we worked on him longer than we normally would...I'm so sorry..."  The memory of that night oh so painful to this day...

It was then that my philosophy on life changed.  Live every day as though it's your last.  You cannot change the past.  Do not take anything or anyone for granted.  The days have passed and our lives have gone on, but not one day goes by that I don't think of my dad.  In fact, there are still a few things that I cannot do.  I cannot go into Ace Hardware.  I cannot listen to Annie Lennox's "Walking on Broken Glass" or Kenny Chesney's "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy".  These memories are the tangible things I have left and hold onto with all my heart, along with my all-time favorite picture of me and my dad.

What the heart has once known, it shall never forget. ~Author unknown