While I was in school, I was assigned a task I
didn't really expect.
The assignment was, "Tell me a life changing event and tell me
how you have changed since that event."
Automatically, I knew the story I was going to tell.
I'd like to share with Witty.
I might have once shared a little bibt of the story, but now
I'm going to tell the whole story.
A little bit about me everyone should know is that I live with my
mother, sister and grandparents.
When I was seven years old, thirty-four days before my eighth
brithday, my father died.
That morning went normal, I woke up, and being a little kid, I was
overjoyed that it was a new day.
I remember that morning, though, that I was feeling off - something
strange was in the atmosphere.
Of course, I didn't think anything of this - I was seven years
old!
So the day went on, and it turned out to be my favorite time of the
year.
Halloween was in less than 30 days, and my family always went
all-out on this holiday.
My mother, sister, grandmother and I decided to go
pumpkin-picking.
In my little neighborhood, my house is known for our pumpkins.
We always had at least eight pumpkins carved and displayed in the
front.
My father, that day, decided to stay home and at some point go to
Home-Depot.
As we started leaving, my father stopped me in our porch.
He hugged me, and I will forever remember the last words I ever
heard him speak.
"I love you, peanut. I'll see you later."
So I hugged him goodbye and as I pulled away, I felt his stubble
from his unshaven beard on my right cheek.
When we got home hours later, with ten pumpkins, my fathers red
truck was gone.
We assumed he had just gone to Home-Depot and would be back
soon.
Soon turned into hours, and eventually it hit 4 in the evening.
Our fears were answered when two police cars showed up at my front
yard.
They asked for everyone to come outside, and weirdly enough, even
my dog to come out.
So we all gathered, my mother is tearing up and I'm petting my
dog - being oblivious because I didn't know.
The last words I remember coming out of anyone's mouth that day
were "he was dead on impact."
I sat, petting my dog, pretending to cry, on the ground, next to my
sister.
I remember that night, my sister, mother and I all went to bed in
the same bed.
When I was finished telling this story - I wasn't sure what had
changed me through it.
But I soon figured out that I changed from this happening to me
because now - now I don't live my life like I will live
forever.
My father was 35 when he died in that car accident. Today he would
have been 47 years old.
I also know that since he died, I sure as hell haven't held
back from anything.
I know that if I were to unexpectedly die, at least I know I would
have lived my life to the fullest.
I try not to live my life in fear since he died.
Naturally, it's kind of difficult to - since whenever someone
says "bad news", I always resort to someone is dead.
And naturally, even though I drive, and have to drive to get to
most places, I am terrified of cars.
But regardless, even though I miss my dad terribly, I've
learned a lot from him - even from beyond the grave.
Two days ago, was the first time I visited his gravesite since he
died.
I don't know what I was expecting, but I felt relieved when I
finally visited.
I saw the flag that they put there, to honor him for his time
served, and smiled.
I was always afraid I would end up crying, or hating who I was
because I hadn't ever visted him.
But when I went, I felt relieved because I know he would be proud
of who I am today.
He knows the mistakes I have made, and everything else, but I know
he would still love me.
It feels amazing to finally know where he is burried and that I can
now visit whenever I can.
February 20, 1967 - October 6, 2002
You are forever my hero, Vati.