Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday

me&dad
Originally uploaded by katebunge.

Dear Dad,

It's been a long time since we spent time together, just chatting or sharing
artwork creations, or watching bugs bunny on Saturday monrings. I spent
only 16 years of my life with you, and July 3, 1987 seems like an eternity
ago. It took a decade for me to realize that being the only family member
to share the last days of your life, and subsequently find you after your
passing, was not a curse, but a gift. Back in those days, we had no idea
that the night we spent on the cruise around the Hudson River, under the
awesome display of Lady Liberty, that it would have been our last special
moment together. You were so full of life, although inside your heart was
slowly dying. A mere 36 hours later, and I would be sobbing over my loss.
And at the time, it was MY loss, not yours. Too young to realize what a loss
you suffered, it wasn't until my mid-twenties, while aspiring toward my
own careers goals in New York that I realized that it was not I who had
suffered such a loss, it was you. You were only 49 years old. With so
much life ahead of you. You missed out on the birth of all of your
grandchildren, the weddings of all your children, and golden years with
your wife. So on this Christmas day, what would have been your 69th
birthday, I wish you Happy Birthday to let you know that you are still
sorely missed and the wound in my heart for you, I fear, will never truly
heal. Love, Kate

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I wanted to remember my dad this Christmas Day and encourage
anyone else to remember a loved one this holiday. Happy Holidays!