Leonard Gokey

I remember My Niece Jennifer being born in Kingston and going to the hospital with Mom and Dad to see her , I remember going to my niece Patty's Christening  . Dad, Mom ,My brothers and I ,all in our Sunday best to the little church there in Chasm falls,  I remember how exciting it was to have this new Little baby brought into our family,  That scene repeated itself again and again as time went on,  Christine , Cathleen , and again and again , each time bring us a new little life that would grow and help shape what our family has become.  We all grew together and planned for our families , and for our futures .  We all joined together in celebration  for each others triumphs and consoled each other in our darkest of hours.  What it must have been like to be in Dads shoes and to have watched what his family had become the joys and the tears he must have had.  A few years back , on what seems to have been the darkest of hours and days for our family we said our final good -bye's to our Dad. God had decided that his work was finished, and it was time for Dad to go with him.
 He hasn't been with us now for over three years only in memories and in spirit.  His family, while still missing him a great deal , is continuing to move forward with new life and new beginnings, as we all await the arrival of baby Liam Edward , son of that little baby girl, that was Baptized in that little Church in Chasm Falls. That Little girl  Christine , that Dad would play cards with and hold on his knee is getting Married soon, just these past months there has been another of his grandchildren Baptized in the Hudson Valley.  I Know that he is looking down on us and still has that same excitement in his heart about what his family has become as he always did. He still watching over his family just as proud as always  He is still with us . we all just need to keep him there.

In church a couple of weeks ago after the gospel the priest spoke to the congregation and told a story that made me think about Dad's Life with us.  In his sermon the priest told a story of when he was studying to be a priest, he was in Rome and one of his mentors told him that what was important in one's life was one's dash, and the choices we make during that dash. Puzzled by what he was saying he asked what he meant by the dash. his Mentor explained that every one is born on this earth and has a birth date , They will live their in accordance to what is important to them,  they will learn to follow or lead , love or hate  , believe or not,  they will encourage or discourage.  You see says the mentor to the priest it is not so much about the dash as it is about what choices we make during each of our dashes. because in the end we all will have a date of our Death.   It took me a little bit catch on , and I started thinking about Dad's dash , and the choices he made during his dash, Dad always took charge and was the first to  step in to the ring to lend a hand or advice to someone who needed his help, Dad had a love for life and everyone n his life , he was always willing to show his love for his wife and family, Dad may not have shown as openly as others but I know he was a believer , and he was quick to see that all of his children were on board by sending us to Catholic Schools and seeing to it that we all attend church with him and Mom each Sunday, I can remember us standing in the Sacistry pew , all of us boys lined up with our white shirts and ties and Mom and Dad on either end. Lastly  Dad never discouraged us from going out and doing anything that we chose to take on , most times if we were to run something by him he would have some words of advice that he did not force upon us ,but asked us to consider and he would always stand behind any of us no matter what our decisions were.  In the end I guess I was thinking that Dads Dash was pretty well spent and the decisions that he made along the way were the right ones.  As a result of his Dash he left behind 6 children with their spouse and their children , a sign of his continuing leadership, Love, Faith and Encouragement.
I am pretty proud of Dad's Dash and hope that my Dash can be an example of what he taught us to be in life.

If I could write a story...
it would be the greatest ever told
of a kind and loving father
who had a heart of gold
I could write a million pages.....
but still be unable to say
just how much I love and miss him,
every single day
I will remember all he taught me,
I'm hurt, but won't be sad
I know he will send me down the answers
because He'll always be my Dad.

It is difficult to see the years pass and you no longer with us. As each Holiday , Birthday and Anniversary date that comes along my mind crosses over to thinking about, what you would be saying or doing, and I see your smile and hear your laughter. We had so many good times celebratiing those times with you.  I know that it is especially hard for Mom to get through some of these times as you were her world , and she was yours.  Your 63rd Anniversary was today, and even though there is no more celebration in Mom's Heart , It is hard to believe that she does not have you heavey upon her mind.When speaking with her this morning she mentioned that she and Aunt Marge was going out to an early Dinner . I thought it best not to make mention of the Day but I felt as though she knew I had it on my mind ,and I felt as though it was wieghing on her's as well.   To the end of the day I spoke with her and asked her how her Day went and she replied ,in an upbeat voice ," It was a good Day and I enjoyed having my dinner with Aunt Marge and I am going to watch the Mass on TV and then ready myself for Bed"  I told her that I loved her and to have a good sleep and that I would speak to her tomorrow.  Mom again showed so much strength and her devotion to her prayer and faith has helped her through another day of trial.  I hope that if I am left to carry on without my wife,my loved one ,my world, and my best friend, That I will be able to be as strong as what Mom has shown me that she is, and I hope that I am as strong in my faith as she has lead in example.  
Even though it is hard to imagine that there is anymore celebration in Mom's heart for 63 years of Love and Devotion, I can see her putting her head down on the pillow tonight whispering the words "Happy Anniversary Len, I Love You".  

Easter Time and a basket full of chocolate eggs and other goodies.... I can't remember an Easter time without these treats . When I was just a little boy I can remember getting up and seeing six baskets, all lined up with the brightly colored celophane wraps on each of the baskets all tied with a big ribbon and bows. The excitment on our faces as each of my brothers discovered his basket,  was the reward for my parents sacrifice and hard work.  It was not till years later that I realized what a feat this display of brightly colored baskets had been. Mom and Dad had put those baskets together piece by piece , finishing them off with the wrap and bows. 
Its amazing that the most important thing that was in those baskets would not be realized for years later, that being the love and sacrifice that Mom and Dad put into them.
As long as I can remember I have been blessed with two parents that never neglected us, they never set aside their childrens needs for things that they may have wanted in life or may have needed for themselves.  Mom and Dad always made thier children the most important thing in their lives.  It was a sacrifice that they were devoted to through thier love they had for their children.  Never once did I hear Dad  or Mom for that matter complain or utter the least bit of discord about sacrificing for thier children . 
The simplest of things would be the most contenting enjoyments for Mom and Dad  ,a day in the feilds picking wild blueberries with the old roasting pan , an afternoon  in our camp relaxing and listening to the the junebugs buzzing , or a picnic and a swim out at Flat Rock or at one of the local swimmong holes.  It was enough for them ,and they felt blessed to be able to spend that time with each other, and thier children.
I am Glad to have had the parents that I did , they are truely the BEST, I was blessed with having them .  Mom is still here with us showing us her love in everything she does.  Dad has gone to be with Jesus  ,but just as I feel the love of Jesus , I feel the love from Dad everyday . He is with me and on my mind every moment of my life. 
At Easter we all are reminded of the great sacrifice that Jesus made for us , his children.  I know that Dad lived his life making sacrifices for his children. 
Today with parents trying to keep up and stay ahead . The pressures becoming more and more demanding on them, I hope that in all the kaos , they can stop and ask themselves ,do I sacrifice for my children and are they the most important thing in my life ?