I wrote a bit of a different version of this for my dad’s celebration of life…after the dust settled a bit I sat down and read it over and thought it would resonate with a few people. After all, life is all about weathering the storms.

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When I was little, I was afraid of storms.

My Dad didn’t understand what I was scared of. And now, knowing what he lived in Vietnam, I imagine that storms were a daily occurrence in all his tours. The thunder that was loud. The lightening that was terrifying. What he endured was a million times worse than the fears of a 5-year-old.

But he acknowledged what I was afraid of…and we sat in the yard and faced it.

We talked about electricity and energy and how things worked. (This was all way over my head but those of you who knew Dad, know you just had to let him roll).

He talked about the sky and how to watch it, the wind and how to feel it. The direction that the leaves blew, the smell of the air and to watch how it changed. And he made me sit by the oak tree until the very last minute where we had to run to the back porch to escape the rain. And I laughed. We laughed.

After that we talked about the temperature change and how the smell of the air changed. How we were colder than before but were ok with that.

As he went back inside, in his way too short OP shorts, I looked at the sky and it was not scary anymore. I smelled the fresh air from the rain, I felt the wind touch my face and saw the sun over the barn on Pocock Road.

I think about that moment often, even more so now that my dad is gone. Funny how the memories rush back when the people you love, leave.

Gail Lynne Goodwin said, ” The fear of the storm is usually worse than the storm itself.” The unknown is always the scariest part of all…what if’s can consume you and your mind can be your biggest enemy, creating a fear that is so all encompassing that it paralyzes you. At that point you have to ask, “am I ready for what is true?” Most of the time it’s not as bad as the narrative that you crafted and sometimes it can be worse. But at least you know, there is no more guessing and you can begin to face it.

Storms in life are inevitable. Sometimes we are prepared for them and sometimes we are not. Some will knock you to the ground while others leave a puddle on the floor. But the sun will shine again, expect it to and look for it through the clouds.

And when you see that glimmer of light, close your eyes and feel the wind sooth your soul and know that you made it.