The day I used Pledge to clean out the inside of my ski box on top of my car, I realized I was turning into my father. It has been a long, steady process. Whereas in my childhood I would complain at length on our annual garage-cleaning day about how the very purpose of a garage is to be dirty, now my garage is hyper-organized, and garage-cleaning day are four of my favorite days of the year.
In recent years, I’ve noticed that it goes well beyond habits, quirks and traditions. I can recognize my dad in my voice, mannerisms, movements, smartass jokes, and the laughter and sideways smirks that accompany them. Most people can relate to becoming their parents. However, last October my transition to becoming my father took a turn toward the literal. As my bone marrow donor, billions of Dad’s stem cells were put directly into my blood stream where they found their way deep into my bones and began making new cells, bone marrow and blood. Dad’s cells succeeded where all of the best chemo and radiation doctors could give me had failed – they knocked back the leukemia that was killing me. His cells gave me another (third) chance at life. They are the reason I was able to have one of the best road trips of my life (more on this later), catch my first grayling, float the Kenai with Jenny and Birkie this weekend, finish my truck camper, and generally return to the life that I love so much. Today my bone marrow – the thing at the very core of me – and the blood that courses through my veins are the same as his. This Father’s Day, I’m reflecting on how grateful and fortunate I am to have a Dad that I am so proud to become.
marilyn tucker
6/20/2016 06:48:44 am
Sam - what a wonderful tribute to you Dad - and someday your son will think just as much of you as you do Dana (Jim) your Dad
marilyn tucker
6/20/2016 06:49:13 am
Sam - what a wonderful tribute to you Dad - and someday your son will think just as much of you as you do Dana (Jim) your Dad
DAD (jenny's)
6/20/2016 08:09:46 am
Beautiful.. Thanks Sam
Bev Mangerson
6/21/2016 09:01:26 pm
Ok, enough with the tears. That was beautiful Sam. Wonderful tribute Comments are closed.
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