A Letter to My Father

Dear Daddy,

This letter is a reply to the letter you wrote me six years ago, a couple of months before you passed away.  You explained that you loved my sisters and me, that you would not be able to be there when we needed you such as graduation and marriage and that you hope you would be a better father on the other side. 

 You are my hero, my role model and my protector. I can remember when you were not feeling well, you were still committed to supporting the family; you continued to work even though it pained you to do so. That year you continued to fight not just for yourself, but first for our family.

However on one fateful day, you were rushed to the emergency room and it was there that the doctor sadly told you had about two months left to live. Not paying attention to what the doctor told you, you sadly lived each day as if you did not have the cancer. Even on your death-bed, your tenacious spirit and body allowed yourself to keep on breathing until it was your "time to go." We watched your last breath on August 8, 2006 at 9:30 p.m.

            Your funeral was so beautiful, I can remember like it was yesterday. All the children were dressed in white because Ms. Love, your mother told us to. It was in a big church and it was packed. I thought that everyone in the world was there supporting you as you had supported them.  We had cried so much the night that you passed that I could not cry any more. However, I did cry one time, when Calvin, your sister's son explained that you were like a father to him and that he would miss you dearly. I think everyone cried after he said that because we could see the sadness in his face.  Your funeral was a celebration because we celebrated  the life you lived and the people you met along the way.     

A couple of days before you passed away, we had a talk about how I should always be on my best behavior and that you said it was important for  me to finish high school and go to college. I knew that you valued education highly, so I took my education very seriously even though you were not here. I graduated from high school with a B average with acceptances to different colleges in 2009.  But since it was hard on mom, we decided to stay in New York; so I attended my first year of college at the State University of New York College at Old Westbury as a Business Administration major. The school provided a lot of financial aid, so mom did not have to come up with money out of pocket, which was a  burden off  her shoulders.

I finished up my freshman year with a GPA of 3.12, making the dean's list my first semester and joining the swim team and the school's newspaper called The Catalyst. Sophomore year was the hardest because I did not do as well, and junior year I had to work to bring my GPA back up.  During my junior year I was able to study abroad in Hong Kong! Who would have thought of that, Daddy. Finally, I made it to my senior year and again I made the Dean's list this past fall.

During the time  you and I were able to share, you instilled an important jewel of knowledge for life. This was never to give up even if the odds of succeeding are extremely low. It has allowed me to bloom into the beautiful woman who I was born to be. This important jewel you left with me has not only helped me prepare for anything that comes my way, but to learn from the issues that I may face in life.

This jewel will help to leave your legacy untarnished for generations to come. I am so thankful and grateful for having you as my father in my life for the first 16 years.  When I am having a bad day, I think about all the good times we had and always read the letter you wrote me before you passed away.

Do not get me wrong, you were a tough person; all my friends were scared of you but you had the utmost respect when you walked into  a room.You helped me throughout my life from the time I was a baby till the day you went to heaven.  Thank you, I miss you and I wish you were here, and I know that I am making you a proud Father on the other side. Mom by the way is doing the best that she can do to help raise Monet and me, and I commend her as well. She misses you and hopes you are happy somewhere in heaven.

 Love a Million Times, Your Daughter,

                                                                                Alhia Harris