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“And I’ll make us a thermos of hot chocolate.”
“And you know I love that too.”
“I do.”
Graham and I smiled at each other, then got up from the couch and I walked him to the front door of the parsonage. After stepping outside onto the front porch, he turned around and looked at me.
“I’ll check on you tomorrow,” he said. “Bye, old friend.”
I watched him walk down the sidewalk and then make his way over to his truck parked in the driveway. After he’d driven a few yards down the street, he stopped in front of the parsonage, rolled down his window, and then stared at me. I shrugged my shoulders to ask him if something was wrong and he shook his head no. Then he gave me the “hang loose” sign with his hand. He hadn’t forgotten it and neither had I.
It was something that we’d started doing in high school after we became friends. It was our personal sign for “hello” and “goodbye” and eventually became our sign for “I love you.” I didn’t know if Graham was telling me goodbye again or reminding me that he loved me right now, but I knew what I was saying to him when I raised my hand into the air and made the sign. I loved him and I always would.
54
#success
Stevie
“DAD, YOU’RE DOINGso well,” I said.
“Between my physical therapist and you pushing me, of course I’m doing well. I have two drill sergeants here.” He chuckled and so did I.
“I’m really proud of you.”
“I appreciate it, daughter of mine.”
“I’m really thankful that you’ve made it through all of this, too.”
“So am I.”
“Hey, before we go back home, how about we stop by Torchy’s Tacos?”
“I’m all for it.”
“Then let’s go, old man.”
He sighed out a grin and then stood up, using his walker. My dad’s rehabilitation could be quantified as a success, although he still had lingering effects from the stroke and probably would for the rest of his life. Still—he was doing so wonderfully.
New Year’s Eve was tonight and my dad and I had plans to ring in the new year in his parsonage living room in front of the big screen, watching the ball drop in Times Square whilehe enjoyed some Pinot Grigio and I enjoyed some Hendricks. My dad had always been one to celebrate the new year’s arrival—always recounting his blessings from the previous year and already thanking God for the ones that he knew lay ahead. This time, I was going to do that too.
On our way over to grab some tacos, my dad brought up something that I’d struggled with saying yes to because I wasn’t sure if he was in a place where I could say yes. Now, I felt at peace having said yes.
“Are you excited about going back to work on Monday?” he asked me.
I cut my eyes over him sitting in the passenger seat of my car and smiled. “Very excited.”
“I know Melissa is excited to have her Joan of Arc back fighting for children around here.”
“Now remember that I can come home at any time if you need me. Melissa has already assured me that it won’t be a problem.”
“Oh, I’ll be fine while you’re at work. I know I still have a little way to go before I can hop back in the saddle at my pulpit but it doesn’t mean that I can’t go ahead and prepare some sermons.”
“You’re right, it doesn’t. Have you thought about what your ‘welcome back’ sermon is gonna be?”
“I have.”
“And?”
