Good Show

Toward the end of GMFB, my Mom got to my house and went to the kitchen to begin making us some breakfast. It was more of a brunch because it was kind of late but we can’t begin our morning routine until after I have eaten something. Because it is gotten colder; I have stopped drinking my protein shakes. I prefer to eat something warm.

She brought tortillas with her for Sean and I told her that I wanted eggs and sausage. She asked me if I wanted them in a tortilla. Well, OF COURSE I do!!! Is that even a question?!

She handed me a tortilla filled with hard eggs and bits of sausage. I took a bite, closed my eyes, and I told her that it reminds me of Texas! Breakfast burritos will always do that to/for me! We started talking about the fact that my Dad had always made the BEST eggs!

Because Sean will be 18 on Saturday, I recounted the story of my Dad waking me up and offering to cook me breakfast because he had something to talk to me about. He told me that my Mom and he were bothered and concerned about the fact that I was NOT coming home for dinner. It was the summer after my senior year?! I was moving to Kalamazoo in the fall to attend WMU, I just wanted to be with my friends! I told him that I was moving to the OTHER side of the state and that he just didn’t understand.

I continued my story by telling my Mom that back then, I was seated at her dining room table and was freely swinging my legs. (Back when I still could control my legs). I told her that I will never forget in my entire life my Dad taking a step back in her kitchen so he could look directly into my eyes and telling me with the utmost to gravity, “At least you know you’re coming back!”

I stopped swinging by legs immediately and understood that even though my Dad did not have the, “College experience,” he’d let me know in those six words that being shipped up to Vietnam to fight in a war was so much bigger than anything I was doing that summer! I NEVER was late for dinner again as long as I’ve lived with my parents.

After we both finished our breakfast, we began our routine. My Dad was on my mind and we started talking about his funeral. There are so many events from that time, even 13 years later, that are crystal clear to me but I still can’t remember anyone’s face at the mausoleum. I do not even know who was there. Everyone wanted to hug me though but I was so distraught I just let my hands fall to my sides and allowed myself to be hugged but I could not even return the hug.

As my Mom washed my hair this morning, I let the tears flow freely. My Mom added that that was the best funeral! It really was! I think it was the day after the funeral where I told my Mom that I pictured my Dad standing in the back with his arms crossed over his chest and slowly nodding his head with a determined frown on his face and saying, “Good show!”

It really WAS a Good show! Pretty much the BEST! Even as I write this, I can’t stop crying but I have had fond memories of my Dad and I wonder what he would think about Sean being 18 in just five days!