When I think of my father
I think of love.
  his strong arms wrapped around me
  protecting me
  as only a father can protect his daughter

When I feel of my father
I feel of love.
  the love for his wife he serenaded 42 years ago
  the love for his children and grandchildren
    the source of fire
    in his eyes
    in his pride
  the love for his sisters, his mother and father
    who gave and taught him how to love

When I need my father
I need love.
  I need Mother Nature as he needed Mother Nature
    the cycle of seasons
    serenity of snowfall
    a summer lake to wash away my worries
    tall trees to strengthen and resolve me
  I will continue to sit in the woods with my father
  and learn the lessons of nature
    life-death-life, life-death-life
  and know that he expects that cycle to go on
  expects us to go on.

When we think of my father
we think of the love in friendship.
  his love for Bill Bagby, Denny Bing, his fraternity brothers,
  Joey Serratella, Lloyd Duran, Chris in Arizona, and so many others
    the love of the friendship they shared
    the love of the stories they’re now sharing

When we remember my father
Remember love.
  the love for our children and grandchildren
  the love for our husbands and wives
  the love for our brothers and sisters
  the love for our good friendships
  the love for our communities
  the love for our mother earth

When I feel of my father
I feel of love.

Jennifer Hruska
September 1998