Together Again

Daddy passed away when I was fifteen years old. He was not only my dad, but my best friend. Our relationship was always closer than most because mom died in child birth. She had a hard delivery, and never came out of the massive stroke she suffered while in labor. They were both eagerly awaiting my birth. They were married almost eight years before mom had successfully presented dad with the child he had always wanted. "A LIFE FOR A LIFE WAS TRADED"

His heart shattered into a million pieces when mom died, he removed her wedding band before he left the hospital. She was cremated the following day. He promised her he would one day join her, until that time he vowed she would remain his only love. In the Silver Urn, he had ONE SINGLE RED ROSE, put in with her remains. She alone knew the reason for that loving gester.

He took her ring and along with his own ring, had it melted down and reshaped into an eternity knot. The "GOLD KNOT" was worn around his neck, he vowed it would never come off. "In this life that is".

I was only four pounds at birth, so I remained in the hospital for a few weeks. Dad used this time to make arrangements for a housekeeper to move into the house to care for me. I was all that was left of his sweet Rosette. Mom's given name was Rosalie, but being so petite, she was dubbed Rosette by Dad.

I had a wonderful childhood. Dad gave me all the love a child could ask for. He would tell me bed time stories, each night when he tucked me in. Such beautiful stories, he would spin. All his stories were wrapped around the wonderful life and love he had shared with his Rosette

Dad began telling me how my mother would visit him as he lay sleeping. He would wake up and find her standing along side the bed, bending over him. As always she would be caressing the Eternity Knot he wore around his neck. "This will go to the grave with me", he always said with such sadness. I always hated it when Dad talked about his own departure to the other side, but he knew Rosette would be waiting. He talked about embracing her, and placing the Eternity Knot around her neck. I really think he was looking forward to this day, as one looks forward to an exciting vacation.

When Dad unexpectedly slipped away in his sleep, I was almost happy for him. I knew that he would be with my mother again. The last thing I did before the casket was closed, was to make sure he was wearing the gold knot, which he never took off in life. "HE WAS". Mom's ashes were buried with Dad.

I refused to leave the home I grew up in, so Aunt Mary came to live with me. She was Dad's only sister. We settled into a very quiet and simple life.

Soon, It was I who was awakened in the middle of the night. The room was dark. The only source of light was from the night light in my bathroom. I awoke with the feeling that Dad was near by. I could even smell the tobacco, which he smoked in his pipe every night after dinner. I expected to see him as I sat up and peered around the room.Instead what I saw will remain with me the rest of my life. He was standing there smiling, holding the hand of a lovely woman, who looked amazingly like me. She smiled at me and began to caress a beautiful familiar "Gold Eternity Knot" which was now around her neck. They disappeared within seconds. Dad lingered just a second longer, to give me one last smile.... HIS NECK WAS BARE.... "Are you lucky enough to have TWO ANGELS keeping watch?"

Submitted by: Isabel Anistol
Border Background by: Nancy