Memories of the Stoneman

A year ago the world lost a special man. He meant many things to many people. My mother lost someone she thought she would spend her entire life with. My brothers lost their first male role model and great friend. I lost one of the greatest heroes in my life. My entire family was left with a gaping hole. Today, while that hole is still there, we have all learned to live without falling so deeply into it that we are lost and unable to live our lives.

My father was a man who I always felt could do anything. At 44 years old I understand there were things he did not know and may have not been able to fix. However, I will never admit that my Daddy had any short comings in the fix-it world. I grew up with him fixing diesel engines and building houses. He repaired appliances and lawn mowers. He could fix the car or hang wallpaper. Plumbing and electrical issues were always handled without calling in outside help. He built a pond and a cabin (really more of a house that was called a cabin) on land he and my mother bought after they married. He remodeled apartments and cared for the swimming pool of the complex his family owned. He built swing sets for us all to play on and even hung a swing in the living room of the house he built while I was growing up. This man did all these things and so very many more.

Through out the years of my upbringing he worked many 10 and 12 hour days. He demonstrated a work ethic that was close to impossible to beat. His examples, both those that were his own alone and those that he shared with my mother, have shaped who I am today. I always felt he was fearless in his endeavors to reach his happiness. He kept moving to new locations and new jobs throughout his lifetime in order to reach the place he felt was the perfect location for him and his beautiful bride to spend their golden years.

Unfortunately those golden years were cut short. They had a few years in their mountain get away. They had a dream home. He finally had land surrounding his home to play on and shape as he wanted. The home they found was complete. It did not need to be remodeled nor did it need to be built. They moved in and it was ready to live in. Except of course for the kitchen wallpaper, 2 inch forest green stripes and pink counter tops were just not going to cut it for either one of them. He left this home. It is still there. My mother is still there. Many of his projects are still there.

His courage through the last year of his life is inspirational. He never admitted defeat. He fought to the last breath he took. I am sad he is gone. I am sad he cannot tell me what he thinks about what I have created in my life since graduating from college. However I know he is in his perfect place. Because of his courage and insightful lessons I am moving forward in my life with less fear than those around me. I know I am in my perfect place. I know only good can come to me. I know that all I do and am doing will give my children examples to build their dreams on. He may not be here physically but his presence, his essence, his stoneman sense of humor filters through my days. These are just a few of the many thoughts flowing through me as I live in his honor today.