James Dunn

Dad,

I am thankful that you are at peace. I am grateful that your spirit is free to fly the expanses of the universe without a care,  pain, or suffrage.  While we are away from each other I will hold a little piece of you you in my heart, mind and in the stories I share. I say only a little piece because I want everyone who loves you to take a little bit too but still leave enough for journey into the next transition. You were a little on the hefty side, so I am sure there will be plenty to go round.😊 If we can’t laugh then what is it all for? I will always be your son and proud to call you dad. I am happy that our relationship was based on our own experiences together, and not tainted by anyone’s opinions about each other or expectations that preceded ourselves. I feel powerless, but when I do, I know my creator is  in control and I have to surrender. I hate the fact that you are gone, and I will never in this life see you again and miss you again. I hope you know that your relationship with me helped me open up when I needed to the most. I was hurt. Not by you, but by the death of the man that raised me. It didn’t heal the wound, but it soothed. It also made me rethink what is is to be a dad. It is one thing to be separated from and dismiss a child that you help create.  But to long for, and look for a child as long as you did, search for a son who was separated from you due to the negligence of another and still not lose hope, in my eyes is the core of what being a father is. You have to want it and to show it without words only action. You affirmed everything I needed to let you in by the way you treated me when we finally met again. Not one judgement cast, not one flinch of my brutal forwardness, and no silence when faced with my ability to ask gut punch questions on the fly. You just wanted to be my dad, and wanted me to know you never gave up on me. I felt that. I am saddened that we spent so much time apart. The one good thing that it did bring was my da
d Jake. If you were not able to be there, God could not have given me a better man to stand in for you. He loved me with no judgement, hard discipline, and only wanted for my happiness and to be a man of integrity. It took me a while to learn those lessons, but i get my knuckleheaded-ness from you so it totally makes sense. Lol. I am blessed that I had two dads that loved and cared for me, and thank god that I was able to make room in my heart for both. Dad, our bond remained strong through spereation and though we now face another, I know we will pick right back up where we left off, and i will be able to understand you better. 😉 I dont know where we go or what we become, I am not brave enough to believe specifics. But what I do know is that our energy returns to its source and before doing so is intertwined with others which leaves our essence. I believe that death is a transition and not an finality. I know that there are powers greater than my feeble comprehension at work. I know I trust that power to hold you safe until we meet again. It would be nice to think that when you left, the white light you saw was you coming out of a birth canal and into a new life…but who knows? I do know I will see you on the other side and I am sure to get an earful from my two dads swapping the dozens.I love you pops. Rest in peace.