The past few days have been hard.
No special days or celebrations to be sad about.
But you see... there is an emptiness.
An empty swing on the back porch.
We bought the swing when Dad and Mom moved in.
Dad could sit out there on that swing for hours...
No matter how hot it was outside.
He loved to bird-watch.
We would sit out there and sing songs...
Silly ones.
He loved being outside.
I miss him.
We moved into this house a month before dad went into hospice.
Picked it because of the nice front porch that was almost always shaded.
That month he sat out on his chair and watched the cars go by...
He would have sat there all day long if we would have let him.
For the most part... we didn't let him :).
We had a great front porch growing up...
Schultz Street was awesome.
Dad would sit out there on that front porch all the time.
He would watch me practice my baton...
And yell at me when I would drop it ;).
We would play the "car game".
I'm sure every kid/grandkid knows what game I'm talking about.
He would sit out there with a grand baby on is lap and look for birdies.
I miss him.
The swing is still out there.
It's funny because the last couple of days...
I look out and it is swinging on it's own.
It has been windy here in Columbus.
It makes me take a double glance though.
And makes the tears fall every time.
I miss him.
Lots.
He was so precious out on that swing.
So right now...
The rain is falling
And the tears are too.
But...
Mom comes home from Arizona in 2 days.
The front porch will be hoppin' once again.
We will go to the store and buy flowers.
She will sit out on the back porch swing and chat on her cell phone.
Aunt Pat, Aunt Ruthie, Aunt Luella...
They have lots to talk about.
Mom loves the outdoors too...
I'm thankful for the time we get to have with her.
Let the "Punkie Party" begin :).
