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DADDY
I left a message on Chrissie's phone. I didn't tell her that her father had died, only that he had had a heart attack. She was out and didn't receieve the message until it was too late.
But she knew. She drove to the house --flashers-- lighting her way, breaking the speed limit. She burst through the door. Noah and I were there. Waiting. She fell into her brother's arms, weeping. No words were needed.
She loved her daddy, even though she is grown and is a mother. He loved her. He was the only father she knew. We were married when Chrissie was just a baby, but Ashton claimed her as his own. She was always his "Little girl."
He loved her. Protected her. He was always there for her. Now he was gone.
She told me a few days after the memorial that she had been crying in her car on the way to work, and heard his voice. "Don't cry, baby." She felt his warmth. Felt his words.
She spoke at the memorial-- like a little girl, for at that moment she was a little girl talking to her daddy.
FOR DADDY
Dear Daddy,
You were a lover. First when I met you I was quite a baby. Now as I say my farewell I am a woman. You loved me, you raised me. You were my daddy. First you were a lover of party. As I grew you were a lover of family. A lover of nature. A lover of animals, but most of all a lover of mama. Words cannot describe you as a person; you were one of a kind. When I was young all of my friends would come to see you and I thought I was so popular, but you were the popular one. Everyone you met always remembered you and everyone you know will never forget you A lot of people called you crazy. You were proud of that, so they named you "Crash". You were proud of that, so Crash we're all here to say farewell. We know you're having a blast flying a plane or maybe speeding in a boat. You've got all your animals. Maybe you're riding PJ, your favorite horse. I used to call you an old hippy, but I was proud of that. You taught me a lot. You were always there for me. You were always there for people even though sometimes it seemed they weren't there for you. Daddy they are. I know you can see all of us. All of your friends and family. So many people care that you never knew. We are here for you. We love you. You are in our hearts. You are in my heart, my soul. You are in this house, in these trees, in the birds that sing, in the flowers and in the wind. When you passed you said you were in a "white house". They asked again, "Where are you?" and you said, "Home". We know in the Bible, in heaven there are many mansions and streets of gold. Daddy, now you truly are home. I think right now you're driving a mustang of gold, laughing your crazy laugh, having the "time of your life". Daddy, like I always said, "Don't drive too fast."
I love you. I won't say good-bye because you will always be with me.
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