Highways

She had come a long way to be there with him and
she had finally reached her destination.
Her husband and young son had to stay at home but
nothing could have kept her from being there.

As she walked down the hallway, the beautiful lady
with the blond hair was thinking about the times she
had walked down a corridor like this in a different
place to see him, the two of them had always walked
out together.

This time she knew she would walk out alone.

The door came open quietly and she went into the small
silent room. He lay there sleeping, he looked so peaceful
but she almost broke down when she saw how thin he
had become.

Did it all come down to this after everything they had
together? An old Man, his arm, pearl white, breathing
softly.

She remembered something he had written years ago.
“We start with nothing, we leave with nothing” Is this
what her Dad had meant.

He was a good man she thought. Not perfect, but is
anyone perfect?

But he was good.

He had loved her and protected her as she grew and
each morning and each evening it was her Dad and her
there in Colorado, just the two of them.

Sometimes she would start a Roast in the Crock-Pot
before leaving for school. Her Dad loved the Roasts
she made.

Wherever they lived he always gave her the largest room.
Her friends were always welcome to be in her home and
that often was the case.

Many of her friends used to talk to her Dad about the
problems they had at their own homes and Dad always
listened. He seldom offered any advice but he always
asked them questions that would bring them to the good
things at home.

They seemed to leave our home, feeling things were not
as bad as they had thought before they came in.

She sat down next to him and touched his hand. It was
only skin and bone now and the tears streamed from her
eyes but she knew she had to gather herself and finally did.
Her finger circled the big brown splotches on his hand
over and over as she sat there in silence.

Where was everybody?

Did others know he was here? She can’t be the only one
after the kind of life he had and all the friends he had made.

Her smile was radiant as she remembered a trip that the
two of them had taken down to Mexico.
They had driven all the way to Guymas.

What an experience that was. It seemed like the desert
would never end and then they came over a small hill and
there lay the Pacific Ocean.

He told her a little story as they parked the car and took
pictures of it all. She only remembered the beginning and
the end of that story, oh how she wished she could
remember it all.

He said honey “HE gives you a map” “But the highways
are yours” that was the beginning. That was the end.

He stirred on the bed and opened his eyes, still that deep
dark blue.

“Dad it’s me, I’m right here.”

He smiled and said “ I knew you would come” “Honey
hold my hand for a minute” I took his limp hand and he said,
“You do know how much I love you?”

I said “Yes Dad.”

He said, “honey, once I didn’t tell you the truth” “I didn’t lie,
I just didn’t know”

I asked him “What is it Dad?”

Then he said something that will be a part of me forever,
“HE draws you the map” “The highways are not yours
like I told you honey” “The highways are HIS but you
get to choose which highway to take”

I started to say something but he raised his arm as much
as he could to stop me and said, “Let me finish honey.

“Makes no difference to HIM which highway you choose,
HE will always make the trip with you”

Those highways you and I chose worked out pretty
good huh?

I sat there thinking my heart exploding.

Thank YOU for staying with my Dad.

Thank YOU for telling him the rest of the story.

Thank YOU for letting him tell me.

I looked at his face. He had that boy like grin on it even
with his eyes closed. He knew the secret.

I knew my Dad was at peace, I knew I would not be
alone when I left.

It may look to others like I was walking out alone but
he would be there right beside me.

His spirit-his soul and what he had been to me would
never leave.

©Bobby 2004

I wrote this while I could still write it. I know my daughter
Robin someday would need it.

I knew that I would always be with her just as I will take her
everywhere I go.

It’s time to release this and let her read it.

17/06/05