12/05/2006

I will break the mold

Father teaches a sad lesson

By BETH GRISWOLD

Special to the Record-Eagle

You know that little saying, "Many friends walk in and out of your life, but only true friends leave footprints on your heart.”

That little saying says a lot.

Well, my dad wasn't always with me. He was more like a friend who came in and out of my life when he wanted to.

He was a drug addict. When he wasn't in jail, he was too high to worry about me. I got to see him maybe every two years. Oh man, did I sure miss him. He was like my best friend I never had.

One day, about three years ago, my family got a phone call. My mom started crying and we didn't know what was going on. She told us that she wanted to talk. Then she said that my dad was gone — like, dead. He overdosed on drugs. I didn't know what to do. My dad, my friend. Oh my gosh, I thought.

I was thinking about what he had told me. You have a perfect painted picture of what your life is and then all of a sudden it tears in the middle. You never think that it is ever going to get back together, but you realize all you need is a new painting! I thought about that and it helped me get through it all.

I am sure you are wondering what this has to do with my American Hero. My dad was my all-time hero. He taught me not to do drugs. I don't want to turn out like he did. He was never able to be with my family. He will never know what his kids look like because he was locked up in jail for getting caught doing drugs. Or maybe it was because he died from being too weak from doing the drugs and could not quit.

So my dad would be like that friend who walked in and out of my life and left footprints all over my heart.

So daddy, I promise you that I will not let you down. I will be somebody's hero just like I think you would have wanted me to be.

I will fulfill my dreams, live life to my fullest potential. I will try to live the life that you never could. The life that you could only dream of.