~ I Wish
You Enough ~
by Bob Perks
I never really
thought that I'd spend as much time in
airports as I do. I don't know why. I
always wanted to be famous and that would
mean lots of travel. But I'm not famous,
yet I do see more than my share of
airports.
I love them and I hate them. I love them
because of the people I get to watch. But
they are also the same reason why I hate
airports. It all comes down to "hello" and
"goodbye." I must have mentioned this a
few times while writing my stories for
you.
I have great difficulties with saying
goodbye. Even as I write this I am
experiencing that pounding sensation in my
heart. If I am watching such a scene in a
movie I am affected so much that I need to
sit up and take a few deep breaths. So
when faced with a challenge in my life I
have been known to go to our local airport
and watch people say goodbye. I figure
nothing that is happening to me at the
time could be as bad as having to say
goodbye.
Watching people cling to each other,
crying, and holding each other in that
last embrace makes me appreciate what I
have even more. Seeing them finally pull
apart, extending their arms until the tips
of their fingers are the last to let go,
is an image that stays forefront in my
mind throughout the day.
On one of my recent business trips, when I
arrived at the counter to check in, the
woman said, "How are you today?" I
replied, "I am missing my wife already and
I haven't even said goodbye."
She then looked at my ticket and began to
ask, "How long will you...Oh, my God. You
will only be gone three days!" We all
laughed. My problem was I still had to say
goodbye.
But I learn from goodbye moments, too.
Recently I overheard a father and daughter
in their last moments together. They had
announced her departure and standing near
the security gate, they hugged and he
said, "I love you. I wish you enough." She
in turn said, "Daddy, our life together
has been more than enough. Your love is
all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too,
Daddy."
They kissed and she left. He walked over
toward the window where I was seated.
Standing there I could see he wanted and
needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on
his privacy, but he welcomed me in by
asking, "Did you ever say goodbye to
someone knowing it would be forever?"
"Yes, I have," I replied. Saying that
brought back memories I had of expressing
my love and appreciation for all my Dad
had done for me. Recognizing that his days
were limited, I took the time to tell him
face to face how much he meant to me.
So I knew what this man was experiencing.
"Forgive me for asking, but why is this a
forever goodbye?" I asked.
"I am old and she lives much too far away.
I have challenges ahead and the reality
is, the next trip back would be for my
funeral," he said.
"When you were saying goodbye I heard you
say, "I wish you enough." May I ask what
that means?"
He began to smile. "That's a wish that has
been handed down from other generations.
My parents used to say it to everyone." He
paused for a moment and looking up as if
trying to remember it in detail, he smiled
even more." When we said 'I wish you
enough,' we were wanting the other person
to have a life filled with just enough
good things to sustain them," he continued
and then turning toward me he shared the
following as if he were reciting it from
memory.
"I wish you enough sun to keep your
attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the
sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your
spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the
smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your
wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all
that you possess.
I wish enough "Hello's" to get you through
the final "Goodbye."
He then began to sob and walked away.
My friends, I wish you enough! © by
Bob Perks
used with written
permission
http://www.bobperks.com |