Saying Goodbye

Three of my children decided to join the military. This story is about the first time I had to say good by to one of my kids going off to war.

He threw his bags into the back of my truck. Then his sister and him climbed into the truck. We backed out of the driveway and headed for the airport. " Go over to the school" he said. I looked over at him with a questioning look. "I need to say goodbye to mom" he replied.
At the next light we took a left and headed to the school. I stooped the truck in front of the school and he got out ran in and soon came out with his mother and his younger sister and brother. He told them each goodbye and gave each one a hug before jumping back into the truck.
As we left the school things became quiet. That was the atmosphere for the rest of the ride to the airport. Each one of us in our own thoughts thinking about what was coming. There was the occasional small talk but mostly quietness and the sound of the radio playing.
As we were getting closer to the airport my mind began to drift back to when my son was younger. Thinking back to that day in June when his mother was but in the hospital because of her pregnancy and how two days later my first son was born. Thinking of that joyous time, that not only was he my first son but also the first grandson on both sides of the family. How everyone wanted to come and see him at the hospital. Recalling the first time his older sister met him for the first time and how she would fuss over him.
Growing up he was a typical boy. He loved sports, no matter what the sport was. When he was four he would sneak out of bed at night to watch the Olympics on television. He was never an aggressive kid very mild mannered. But when he played sports he played some of the most aggressive positions. In soccer if he was not on the front line he was in the goal. Playing baseball he was the catcher behind the plate. Then in high school he played tight end in football. It was fun to watch him bust through the defense and sack the quarter back.
He also loved the outdoors. Especially fishing. He started fishing when he was around three years old. We would sit on the edge of the pond and fish for ours. When winter came then it was ice fishing. I remembered the day when he went on his first ocean fishing trip he didn't get much sleep the night before.
"Dad turn" my daughter yelled. Realizing that I was lost in thought I mad a quick right turn into the airport parking lot. Getting my parking ticket I went about looking for a parking spot.
After checking in with the airlines we headed to the security checkpoint. The line was long and moving slow so we stayed with my son and chattered a little as the slowly moved along.
My son was dressed in his civilian clothes but people knew from his haircut and his bag that he was in the military. Looking around I began to see that people were watching us. People watching directly and others out of the corner of their eyes. All to fast the time had come. It was time to say goodbye.
His sister hugged him close and started crying. Streams of tears running down her cheeks she kissed his cheek said I love you and stepped back. The lump in my throat was the size of a baseball. The thoughts were racing threw my mind then. Will this be the last goodbye? Would I ever see him again? Would he ever come back in one piece? What lied ahead of him? What would the next seven months bring? All these things racing through my mind as I gave him a hug. Tears welling up in my eyes as I told him "That I loved him and to be safe". He responded with "I love you too dad." There were so many more things I wanted to say but knew that at that time I wouldn't be able to. So I wrote it all down in a card. I handed him the card and told to him to read it on the plane.
I looked over and noticed that those around us were now watching us say goodbye. As I looked at some of the people I could see the tears in their eyes and some had tears running down their faces also. It was overwhelming to see the emotions and support from strangers standing near bye. Some knowing the pain and anxiety that we were to face in the coming months.
Walking back to the truck the tears slowly came to a stop. The sunglasses had been wiped dry a number of times already. As I drove back to work a sense of relief came over me. I knew that he was in God's hands and he would keep him safe.

Reviews

[T]

You have me emotional reading your story, Tim ... You shared something so personal that anyone who has a child could relate to your words ... Your love, pride, sadness and fear, stands out in this beautifully written story ... He sounds like a wonderful young man and that's a testament to you and your wife's upbringing, Tim ... Remember that old adage, 'the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree." It's so hard and even painful to say goodbye, especially to our children and you have penned all the emotions to perfection, Tim ... Cherish those beautiful memories and know there will be more beautiful memories ahead ... take care and thank you for sharing this heartfelt story ... hugs

[Aspiring Angel]

Hi Tim,

I came back to read this wonderful heart filled story and found it in Support Our Troops Challenge. Yep I finally got myself there. Not real sure how everything works in the arenas here but will give it a go. It seems with this one you can only enter 1? Sorry for coming here but this is where it brought me when I clicked on your write in the contest. It was as beautiful as it was the first time I read. Good luck to you in the contest.

Blessings,
Lesa

[A sea person]

Beautifully well written. This piece perfectly describes the parent's feeling as their child goes off to war. I remember seeing similar emotions in my parents when I left for basic...
You did a brilliant job of capturing the pain and pride, the conflicting terror and trust, that comes with watching a beloved family member leave for something as uncertain as war (or even training for war).

Wonderful job!
Ryan

[Aspiring Angel]

Wonderful story fillied with true emotions that are shown quite clearly. This should do great in the challenge. When we can write our true feelings is when our work is the best. I am glad that all three of your children are now home safe and thank you for sharing that with me in a previous message.

Lord's Blessings for you day.
Lesa

[Nansi London]

Brilliant. Emotionally charged and capturing all in one. This my dear was a tear jerky...and what made it even more appealing to the tear duct was the fact that it was a true story. You set the atmosphere and the reader was touched by it. A well written write, this one. thank you for this...
London.

[Traces]

Honestly, I couldn't imagine having to say good bye...not to go off with the possiblity of war. A heartwrenching story, blessings, Holly

[emmajoy]

So many memories come flooding back at times like this... it must have been so hard for you, for all of you. Your son wasn't the only one to need courage.

This is such a sad, sad post to read, but, a finely written example of a father's feelings - and his trust and belief in God. What would we do without Him in troubled and tough times.

Thank you, thank you for sharing.