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The Weight Within Me
The letter from my father
I’ve always said that the written word holds power like no other, but sometimes it’s easy to forget how extraordinarily powerful it could be. There’s times throughout your life that you need a reminder of this.
And I just got mine.
I’m currently on a trip to visit my parents. My mom is in an Alzheimer’s home and my dad lives his life around visiting my mom and helping take care of her and provide her with what she needs.
He’s lonely. He sees the love of his life every single day and has to face the reality of having already lost her each time he does. I know he misses her touch; the hugs she would freely give or the simple gesture of her reaching out to hold his hand.
I think facing this has caused him to take a look at his own life and what he will leave behind.
I came out mainly to spend time with him. Yes, I will see my mom every day while I’m here, but she has no idea who I am and will have no remembrance of my visit. But my father will. For five days I can spend all the time I can making him laugh, making him smile, filling the time voids normally filled with loneliness.
Our family has always been very open about the future; what will happen when we are gone. My brother and sister and I know what will happen…
