To Honor My Father on Memorial Day by Fleta Aday

If you were to ask me who is the greatest man I have ever known, I would not hesitate to name my father.  Today is a day officially set aside to honor his memory.  It is expected by society that today I will traipse off to the plot of ground where we left his body many years ago and lay dead, decaying floral monuments above his decaying bones, so that all will know I honor him.  I know this is not what my father would expect of me.  This act would not have pleased him in his life, and will not please him in his death.

I have visited his grave on occasion, and even laid a few flowers by the stone bearing his name, but then I hear him ask, "Sis, what are you doing here?" I answer, "Daddy, I brought flowers so all will know I honor you."  And my Daddy replies, "Dead flowers for a dead man, how appropriate.  Isn't there someone in your life that is still alive that could use a living tribute?  Why do you waste your life stomping around over my useless bones?  Life is for the living. My living family is all that is left of my life.  Do not waste that life here crying over my bones and pretend you honor me.  Honor me with your life, not dead flowers."

So, on this Memorial day I will honor my father.  I will take my grandson fishing. We will discuss momentous subjects.  Like how he is a good cowboy, even though he has lost his cowboy hat.  And that we will borrow a ladder from Uncle Kacky and climb the tree to retrieve his hat, if he can remember which tree.  We will sing, and laugh, and play.  I will say "Grama loves you more than anything."  And Daddy will say, "Amen."  It is Memorial Day, and I honor my father.
 

Copyright © 1996 Fleta Aday

||| New! Add a Query or Link to Our Site! |  |||
||| Home! | Trees | Documents | Photos | Connections | How To | Text Menu | ||