It's a time for wonder, old timers say, "the greatest gift, the simplest gift: another day".*

I have this picture of my dad and I that sits on top of my TV. It was just after my high school graduation, just a few minutes after my class and I threw up our hats and cheered for our new found "freedom". I have my arms around his tiny body, he's wearing my graduation cap, and you can see, if you look closely, a small tear forming in his eye. He was so proud. Just before the picture was taken, he struggled over the ropes that were separating the students from the crowd, and gave me his famous Daddy bear hug-- the kind of hug that nearly takes your breath away. This was a wonderful moment for us, an important moment, one that my dad worked hard to be a part of. I was unaware of it at the time, but being there that day was one of his final wishes; being there for my graduation and sharing this special moment with me. Just one month later, he lost his 5 year battle with cancer, and quietly passed away in our home as my family and I cuddled up to him in bed.

Yesterday I graduated again, this time from college, and I have to admit it was a bitter-sweet moment for me. I missed hearing him cheer, and seeing that "I'm so proud of you" look, and most of all I missed the warmth of that famous bear hug. I know there will be more moments; future turning points in my life where I'll feel that bitter-sweet sting, and feel as if a part of myself is missing. In these moments I'll bring alive my dad again, hear his voice and talk to him, and I'll remember that day of my high school graduation and know that his pride was not just for that moment, but for all the future moments that he'd miss. I will not let his pride go in vain, instead I'll learn to taste the bitter, knowing that the sweet will always be there to save me in the end.

*The title of this blog is a lyric from one of my dad's songs, which is also the url of this blog: South Moon Under.