Today is the anniversary of my late father’s birth. This is the third birthday since my father passed away. As the time has passed, I have felt many different emotions through a continuing process of grieving, remembering, and honoring my dad. Dad had Alzheimer’s Disease, and he declined slowly over many years, losing the ability to ambulate and communicate many years before he passed. Dad’s illness was difficult on the whole family, and we felt that in many ways we lost him long before he died. I regret missing out on a chance to know my dad better, and him me; the chance to get to know him man-to-man.

Today was a good day. I’ve been designing my business card, and today I received an email with a great offer for printing up the design. That motivated me to finish the design and place the order. Yay.

I went for a 3+ mile run. This was following up yesterday’s run, which was my longest to date, 9+ miles. Yesterday, I envisioned a sleek black leopard to accompany on the run. Today, though, that vision wasn’t helping, but the image of the bald eagle soaring overhead on the Olympic coast carried me. When I returned home, I looked out a window and spotted a gorgeous hawk a short distance away, perched on the lowest-hanging branch, picking at a mouse in his talons. A visitor from straight out of my imagination?

So, the day has ended. My dad is gone, can’t ever come back. We didn’t get to have that talk. But, it was a good day, and some good things happened. I am healing and am strong. My dad and I can have that chat, in my imagination, in my dreams.

So, it’s off to bed, to dream. Get a good night’s sleep. Things will look even better in the morning. <3