The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

A New Year, Time For A Change, But What Will Dad Say?

by Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher/Owner

26 December 2007

Do we ever feel we can escape the all watching eye of our parents, and their take on a situation. I know it surprises me how many times they come to mind when I am making choices.

As much as I hate to admit it, because we all love our independence, I can still feel their tight grip when it comes to the choices I make. My father has been gone since May 18, 1973 (34 years), and my mother has been gone since December 13, 2005 (2 years), but I still find them everywhere I go.

My father died of a heart attack back before people were paying attention to their cholesterol and exercise, and I am reminded how important it is to take good care of your health, because it is tough to lose a parent.

I have learned, however, that your parents are never gone, but are beside you in everything you do, every choice you make. For instance, Susan Galbraith brought me a beautiful dish of homemade fudge for Christmas, and I smiled and thought how much I am becoming my mother for her love of the sweets. She always made fudge around the holidays, something I do not do. But what really surprised me is that after taking a bite of this delicious fudge, the aroma brought back the presence of my mother so strong that I began to cry. It was entirely unexpected that her fudge making, and love for this candy, could be instilled in me in such a deep way.

So, I am sitting here typing of the new year and what changes I should make, and many, I can not, or it would be extremely hard.

My father, for instance, never wanted me to cut my hair and was always disappointed when I changed it in an undo for Prom or special events. So, it took me a long time to cut my hair, but once I did, I kind-of liked it. Well, not really, but I tried and it was fun, but, I think I am growing it long again. He would be so pleased. But I decided to make it dark brown with some reddish highlights, he never commented about that, and I really do think he would like it:if it were long, too.

Hair color is all about fun and giving yourself a lift, but there are deeper things that we must think about in 2008. There is an election coming up, there is renewable fuel in a variety of ways popping up, there is a need to keep energy prices affordable, there is the importance of getting the education of our kids back into top priority so they can excel in leading our country someday. We need to put value on things that are important which will cost us some time, money, and energy.

I hope in the new year we can worry less about the color of our hair, or a neighbor's skin, or the petty things we often talk about, and put more focus on making a difference. When it is all said and done, it is not the day we were born or the moment we died that is the important thing, but it is how much you have given, and sacrificed during that time in between that counts.

You and I have a new year. It is a good time to look for all the ways we can become encouragers and promoters, and people of substance and value.