“Git!”

With Father’s Day being on Sunday, I miss my Dad more than I normally do! I remember when he first died that I asked my friend whose dad had died the year before if it got any easier. He looked at me in my eyes, did not skip a beat, and matter-of-factly told me, “No.” He didn’t yell it or even emphatically say it. It was a simple, “No.”

I didn’t believe him back then, or rather, I didn’t WANT to believe him back then. I don’t know him anymore but I can’t believe how right he was! My Mom and I have had that conversation often and we’ve decided that it doesn’t get easier but it’s just different.

I’ve been watching Seven Brides for Seven Brothers pretty often now that I own it. I probably have seen it 20 times in the last few weeks. Sean is sometimes home when I watch it and he will come in and sit down for a moment with me. I recently noticed that both Milly and Adam tell their brothers too, , “Git!” When they want them to leave quickly.

My Dad used to tell me and my brothers that all the time! He especially liked John Wayne movies and I think it was the, “country” that made him say that to us. Millie had just told Benjamin to, “Git!” an d it reminded me of my Dad. Because Sean was sitting in the living room, I looked at him and told him that Grandfather used to say that and that I said that to him once.

I don’t remember the circumstances of why I said that to him but it was in our second apartment and my Mom was seated at the table with me. As soon as it came out of my mouth, I looked at her in shock! I couldn’t believe that I said that because it used to drive me CRAZY as a child when my dad said that to me. Sean did not remember me saying this to him because I think he had to be five when I told him to, “Git!”

My Dad said so many things that I have only heard him or his brothers and sisters say. I’ve written about a few of them before and I am sure that I will write about the rest of them at some point. I just really miss my Dad right now and Ed told me almost 14 years ago that it would not get better and he was telling the absolutely truth because it hasn’t. And I don’t think it will…