New Life

Another day, I will show you how last night's frost decimated what's left of glorious garden. Because my dad's going to do something pretty awesome tomorrow. He signed up to be a "Guardian" for DC's Honor Flight in his community. It's an organization that takes veterans to DC to see all the memorials. Doesn't matter which war they were in, if you're a vet and you've never been? You get to go. For free. With someone like my dad to accompany you. He's been going to meetings for months and raising money for his two old dudes to go. And I'm proud to say he raised every last cent and then some.

He got to meet his two old dudes at a picnic about a month ago, and they've since been calling and talking and getting to know one another. They are fairly decrepit, which is why they were assigned to my dad. Because he's kind of a big, strong guy that would be able to fend off pick pockets and perhaps swoop them up if they happen to stumble. My mom's been searching the Vietnam Memorial website so that my dad can take them to the section their friends' names are on. (And his. He wouldn't miss a chance to "visit" the name of his friend that died there.) And tomorrow? They go!

Early morning flight, a whirlwind tour of all the monuments, a special dinner and then a flight back home. One of his dudes called him last night and told him he was nervous. Isn't that sweet? And my dad talked him off the ledge and promised he would be there every step of the way. Which I know he will. This, from the daughter who made him cry on too many occasions and told him, "Go away. You can't help me. You will never be able to help me. Just go away." and then got up and walked away from him the last time she landed in the crazy hospital.

Dad, I think you're awesome. So if any of you DC readers see a six foot six inch guy hauling two old dudes around by their belt loops tomorrow, go say hi. And give him a big hug. And tell him there's a girl in South Dakota that thinks the world of him.