Day 12, Sunday of the Challenge: What do you miss?
I miss my Daddy. In August 2008 he was hit on his bicycle by a young driver, Faith Quick, under the influence of drugs with a prior record. She was never official charged for his death and spent just a few days in jail for the drug use. My father served 30+ years in the USAF, was a Veteran of Foreign Wars, and until his death was a teacher at Accelerated Learning Laboratory in Tucson, AZ. He rode his bicycle to and from work to be eco friendly. He is one of many who have been killed on bicycles by cars or buses. I miss him a lot, and I really wish I could get the time back that was stolen from us, and from my sons.
This is the last photo I had the opportunity of taking of him (July 4th, 2007) and fortunately it was with both of his grandsons. He had come to Oahu for a few weeks to visit after the birth of my son Maddox.
At our home in Ewa Beach my dad read to my son Ronan with their long hair and in their Aloha Shirts.
Dinner at Duke’s in Waikiki my son Maddox Charles with his namesake, Grandpa Charles aka ‘Grandpa Chuckles’.
Two years after his funeral we returned to the USAF Academy in Colorado to visit my Dad in 2010.
It was the last time I have been able to visit his final resting place at the USAF Academy in Colorado Springs.
Diary entry from my nine year old self back on the 6th of March, 1991 about how
much I missed my daddy who was fighting in the Gulf War with the USAF.
“March 6, 1991: It’s been over three months since Daddy has been in the Gulf. I really miss him. I’m not sure what I’m going to do first when Daddy comes home. Right now the time is 7:51 pm. I can’t wait! Wait! Until Daddy comes home!”
(spelling corrected so you can read to understand)
