Black Friday began as it normally does.  Everyone is recovering from over consumption on Thanksgiving Day.  Some are planning to go brave the crowds and shop.

On November 23, 2001, my Mama was out to begin her Christmas shopping.  My Daddy was beginning work on a project that would be a gift for Mama.  He was planning to build an arbor that would hold a swing and be covered in roses.  His friends Fred and Charlie would be helping him.

It would be his last day with us.

If I had known, I wouldn’t have been at home being my typical home body self.

Somewhere between 4 and 5 in the afternoon,  I was sitting in my room, on my bed watching one of my favorite movies: Overboard [starring Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell].  My phone rang.  I picked up the phone and said hello.  A voice began speaking to me so hysterically that I didn’t even recognize who it was, nor the message being relayed.  “Who is this?” I asked.  And then I heard her say “Kim. Its Gina. Daddy is having a heart attack”.

I dropped the phone, ran to my car and left.  No shoes, no drivers license, no word to my family.  I drove the short distance [about 3 miles] to Mama and Daddy’s house to find that I would have to park a few houses away and walk to get to them.  When I walked in through the garage door I saw Mama sitting on the sofa, surrounded by family and friends and obviously in shock.  I saw firemen down the hall, in her bedroom, working to revive my Daddy.  I started toward them when my Uncle Roger grabbed me and held me close.  I put my head on his chest and began to pray “Lord Jesus, please take care of my Daddy”.  I said it again and again.  He prayed with me and assured me that Jesus would take care of Daddy.

It wasn’t exactly what I had in mind, but Jesus did take care of him; Daddy went to be with Jesus that day.  November 23, 2001. The day after Thanksgiving.  Black Friday.

It has been 17 years and even as I type these words, I’m wiping tears from my face.  I’ll never stop missing him.

Today I saw a familiar photo and Facebook memory that Mama shared last year:

The arbor was finished later in 2002 by my Daddy’s friends Fred Scarborough and Charlie Brown.  I believe there were others who helped as well.

We’ll see you again someday Daddy.

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.