Sunday, November 18, 2007

authorblog: Weekend Wandering

authorblog: Weekend Wandering

About ever two weeks or so I receive a card or a postcard from my father. I live in Seattle, Washington. He lives in New Jersey. I love receiving his cards in the mail. I love the feel of the crisp envelope and knowing that the card inside fills up every space of the envelope so it is not floppy or flimsy. My father has beautiful cursive handwriting and one quick glance of it is unmistakably his. It's a very comforting sight to me. The simple look of his handwriting. When he sends me cards, they are blank inside so that he can fill them up (both sides) with the "going ons" about my parents lives. Mostly he talks about how it's early in the morning when he writes. I think it's precious, really. He wakes up Sunday mornings, makes coffee and before he heads out to the gym and church, he writes to me from his kitchen table. I am on his mind and he lets me know it.

I have a box that I keep all of his cards in. The stack inside is quite large and heavy and continues to grow. Someday, years and years from now ( I pray!) I know that box will stop growing. But when it does, I will always have his thoughts to read and his handwriting to see and the tangible cards to hold. And always will I see the words that he openly told me in every card..."I love you".

5 comments:

david mcmahon said...

Colleen, this comment is for your Dad, whom I have never met ....

Not a day goes by when I tell my three children how much I love them, not a day goes by without me hugging them and kissing them - several times a day.

Soppy Dads, are we? Maybe - but our children are our lives.

And that, Colleen, is why I know you treasure your collection ....

Anonymous said...

This is so sweet...I miss my Dad every single day (it's been almost six years since he's passed) and I'd give ANYTHING to have a big 'ol bag of cards from him. (My mom normally made out the xmas cards but one year dad did it...I love to stare at his handwriting. It makes me feel closer to him!) You are a lucky daughter! And your father sounds like a sweetheart.:-) Unfortunately my Dad didn't write me much (we lived down the street from each other) but he gave me lots and lots of beautiful memories that i hold tight to! Thanks for sharing this....April

Anonymous said...

Oh, how wonderful to have your dad write to you. I'm afraid mine passed more than six years ago and if I could have one more letter from him I'd do anything.

Thanks for visiting me by the way. Great to make new acquaintances. See you soon.

P.S. Just noticed I seem to have a little in common with smitty76 on the dad front.

~**Dawn**~ said...

This is such an amazing blog entry, Colleen. Very simple, but so heartfelt. It makes me miss my Gram... She loved to write notes & letters & cards...

Susan Skitt said...

You know what, I'm supposed to be on a blogging break and I just happen to check your site and get sucked in! Now how do you do that?

How sweet about your dad...

Your Aunt's birthday party? A hoot. I once packed tuna sandwiches for my hubby to go fishing off the Jersey shore... ha, ha, ha, What was I thinking?

And your running poem? That knocked my socks off...

Hey it seems you lost your socks too...

Catch up with you more later. I've got so much bugging around in my head to write, I don't know where to begin or end...

Glad I know the One who is the beginning and the end. Think I better keep asking Him where to start!