WISHING YOU ENOUGH
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, even though 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 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 goodness,
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 looked 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.
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 hellos to get you through the final goodbye."
He then began to sob and walked away.
My friends, I wish you enough!
beautifully written by
:
-- Bob Perks <Bob@bobperks.com>
My Friends...I do wish you enough !
