Daddy…..The Man. The Myth. The Legend.

In the weeks leading up to my wedding, my father was hospitalized. And even though he didn’t say anything, and I didn’t say anything…I knew we were both thinking the same thing, He wasn’t going to be able to walk me down the aisle. I cried my eyes out. I had made up my mind that if my dad wasn’t out of the hospital, there was NO WAY I was walking down that aisle, and that a wedding was simply going to have to wait! All I could think about was getting on a plane and going to be by his side. And even though he told me not to worry, I was worried sick. So a week later, when I received the phone call that he was being released from the hospital just in time to make the trip to Atlanta, I was beyond relieved and excited. But, as fate would have it, the day before he and my mother had planned to leave for Atlanta, a disc in his back slipped and his back gave out. When I called him to see how he was doing, I could hear the pain in his voice, even though he was trying to mask it. He assured me that he would be there, no matter what.

 But by the time he arrived in Atlanta, he was in so much pain that he couldn’t even get out of bed. Watching him lay there hurt my heart so much. He looked different to me, tired, pained, and more fragile then I’d ever seen him look before. The next day was THE big day, and looking at him I really had my doubts that he’d be in any better condition, so I made up my mind to give him an out. I kissed him on his cheek and told him that it was okay if he couldn’t make it, that I understood and that what mattered the most was that he had come. I then left him to rest for the night.

 The next day as I sat in the dressing room getting my makeup done, in walked my father, full tuxedo and bow tie. The light dancing in his brown eyes, he mischievously grinned at me, but behind his playful demeanor, I could tell that he was still in pain. And so yet again I tried to give him an out,” Daddy you don’t have to walk me down the aisle, I’m okay. If you just want to sit in your seat and stand up when I get to the altar and give me away you can, okay?” Jamila, the makeup artist doing my makeup gasped, and half shouted, “Don’t you dare take that moment away from him! Let him decide!” My dad then looked at me and said, “The only way I’m not walking you down that aisle is if I’m dead, or my legs break, and even then I’m going to crawl.” And so it was to be, he would walk me down the aisle, and it would be one of the happiest moments we would share..arm in arm together.

This past weekend my dad turned 70. I won’t lie it scares me to think of him getting older. Over the past 5 years, my father has had more than his fair share of health scares, surgeries, and extended hospital stays. I have also witnessed very close friends of mine lose their fathers. So when I get those phone calls from my dad saying that he just received the test results from a CT, MRI, or biopsy, the air gets caught in my chest anticipating what his next words will be. Selfishly I want him to be here forever.

 The love that I have for my father is immeasurable, just like the love he has for his family. The sacrifices that he’s made, and still make to this today to ensure that our family is okay, could never be repaid. Daddy, I know that in your 70 years on this earth you probably have regrets, things that you would change if you could, but do know that the one thing that you’ve done right is love your family and I’m forever grateful for you. I promise to spend the rest of our lives together loving each other and creating memories that will last until infintiy.

Happy Birthday, Daddy.

(Reese)

Gigi Powers

Photo Credit: Taylor Productions