In this world many people will come into our lives and leave and never really affect us. They are only examples of smiles created, tears shed, or lessons hard learned. There are only a small group of people that leave a lasting impression on us and that is our immediate family.
Recently, three months to be precise I lost my father to a massive heart attack. The actual death came as a surprise at the time but looking back I guess I could have prepared myself. He had suffered the last four years with C.O.P.D. (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) along with being a smoker and past life of hard partying and drug use. But nothing could have prepared me for the loss I felt after he was gone.
Regardless of my father's faults he was the best of men. He was truly one of the few remaining of a generation of men that believed in still being a man. He worked long hours to provide for his family, he was the best of protectors (always a fighter), and he would always let anyone in ear-shot know that he loved you more than life itself. He would go out of his way to help people even when his health clearly wouldn't allow it.
I have lost friends and other relatives in my life but his loss has left a hole in my heart that will never be filled. I miss calling him every day and night on my hour long drive to and from work. I miss being able to go out and eat breakfast with him or watch the smile on my childrens faces when they would see his trucking pulling in the driveway. I miss the sound of his laugh and voice, the smell of body when he would hug me, not a day goes by that I do not think of him.
People will say that in time it will get better, people will say anything that they feel will provide comfort to you in your time of need but in truth no one can tell you it will get better because in truth it won't. Everyday you'll think of the person that meant the most to you, you'll face the fact that you will never have a chance to pick up the phone to say "hello" or "I love you" again. For you, it may not be your father but there is always someone that you are going to miss more than any other when they leave this world. In conclusion of my rambling, just take the time to hold the ones that you love as often as possible and never take for granted that they will be here tomorrow.