Wayne Martin

Dear Dad and Mom, My heart is broken that you both are no longer here and I know you did not want to leave us, but you were so tired and had to say goodbye, but Mom and Dad I know you now always hear us and as I cry tears for you I know your love is being sent to us from you as Mom you tend a beautiful flower garden and Dad you are keeping a brilliant green lawn in heaven above. You both were always amazingly strong in times of adversity, you were both a fighter until your last breath, but you and heaven decided it was your time to go, perhaps they were in great need for two special angels, and that is what you both always were to me. You both earned those wings. Dad, you told me so many times since Mom passed such a short 3 months and 10 days ago and flew to heaven that you missed her so much and you were ready to go to join her, but I never imagined it would be so soon. Dad I know the angels saw you getting tired, and they wrapped their wings around you and brought you home to Mom. Dad and Mom it hurt so much to watch both you slowly lose your fierce independence and love of reading. It broke my heat to eventually see your brilliant blue twinkling eyes that were always filled with love slowly dim and fade. Dad your love of crossword puzzles, word searches and Mom your knitting, crocheting, quilting and sewing. 1 Mom, I miss the sound of the kind lilt of your sweet voice, your comforting touch, your special way of soothing my fears and lifting me up when I was feeling blue, thank you Mom, I could always count on you. Dad, I miss the sound of your booming voice saying “well hullo”, your quite reassurance and understanding, you always believed in me, even when I did not. See you later alligator, after a while crocodile. You both loved me unconditionally, and you always were by my side. Mom, I miss so much your beautiful sparkling blue eyes, brilliant smile, unending energy and inner glow that lit up every room you walked into. I promised you I would never forget everything you told and taught me, and I never will. Dad, I also miss so much your bright wolf blue twinkling blue eyes, magnificent smile, and the calm grace you gave to every room you walked into. I will never forget everything you told and taught me, and I never will. You always left the backdoor light on for us as a beacon of love welcoming us home. I know both of you will still be here for us, in the whisper of a breeze that blew through your hair, in the ray of sun that touched your sweet faces and the warmth from every loving hug both of you ever gave continues on in all of us who love you. The world was forever changed by both of you, the warmth and love you gave in life is still here..still part of all of us that you touched with your unending love, so not a bit of either of you is really gone. God created all the energy in our universe, so we never go away, our energy goes on forever, it just changes shape and form. 2 Mom and Dad you will forever be on my mind and in my heart every moment of every day, because just as I am a part of both of you, so you both will always be in me. Your energy, love, laughter and all the incredible memories, it’s all still here in my heart. You both changed the path of history by loving us, like a stone thrown into a still clear blue pond, the ripple effects of your love will always grow. Mom you gave me this poem when I was just a young woman, and I always read it every day: MOTHER AND LOVE DIFFER ONLY IN NAME, FOR THE HAPPINESS THEY BRING ARE ONE IN THE SAME. Mom you told me many times do not weep, grieve and “carry on” too long for you when you were gone, that you would be at peace since you were blessed with so much love from all of us from your time here on earth, and to celebrate your life. Dad, I was your baby girl, your “squirt”, and you always kept me safe and I will always remember the protective warmth of your hand holding mine when we crossed a road, you did it without a thought, even as I grew old. You told me so much how much you loved me, and to remember all the good times, and I promise I will, every time I think of you my heart fills with pride. Dad, your loving hard working hands are now at rest, God broke our hearts to show us he only takes the best and you are the best Dad I could have prayed for. You will forever be my Mom and Dad and loving Guardian angel’s for Zach and me. For now, the best thing I can do for both of you is to live life as you taught me, embrace every little moment of every day and give love to others. 3 I will try my best Mom and Dad to keep your memory and legacy going forward by living by the example of your love, strength and unending emotional support. Dad, you were so patient with Zach, when he was so young and wanted so much to play pool in the basement! So you spent untold hours teaching him although he always had leg braces and and arm casts, but this was no obstacle for this Grandpa, you just kept moving a step stool around the table and steadily help him on it each time so he could reach the table. You taught him to fish, fly a kite, hit golf balls in the park and how to quickly reload a squirt gun in our hundreds of backyard water fights! Mom, your love for Zach was wrapped around him like a protective blanket he still carries always. You defended me to strangers who admonished me for making him walk in the mall with his new leg braces and walker. You came to every special needs school care meeting and Dr. appointments with me. When Drs. said he would not walk or talk, you told me he would, and he did! After so many specialists failed, Mom you taught him to swim and walk! Mom, I cannot name all what you taught Zach, but you and I know. Dad, you were the only Grandfather and constant man and Mom the only Grandma in Zach’s entire life, I am forever grateful for both of you for helping me raise him. You both taught him by example kindness, happiness, empathy, and he loves and misses you both so much. Dad, you had the strength of heart to heed the call and defended our country in WW2 and Korean wars and were injured doing so, you an American Hero and a stellar example of the Greatest Generation. For the rest of my life I will carry all your love with me, and I promise I will try to be the best Mom to Zach that I can possibly be because that is what I know you both want me to continue to do. 4 Thank you God for giving me my Mom and Dad, the most priceless of treasures. I pray that someday I am half as good as they were. God, I know you called Mom and Dad to your heavenly home as part of your great plan, but it is so hard to understand. Our faith says believing is seeing and heaven is promised to all of us if we only believe and our life is a voyage that is homeward bound. Dad and Mom, it has broken our hearts to lose you, you did not go alone; for part of us went with you, on the days that God called both of you home. You both left us beautiful memories, your love is still our guide; and although we cannot see you, you will always by our side. Our family chain is broken, and nothing seems the same; but as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again. When I and Zach leave the earth, when our time has come, I know Mom and Dad you will be there to greet us with your brilliant blue eyes smiling and your warm embraces. Oh Mom and Dad, how we will love and will miss you forever! Your loving daughter and Grandson Paula and Zach

- Paula and Zach Martin