50+ Lifestyles

It’s Got Me Thinking…

By David W. Deuth, CFSP
President, Weerts Funeral Home

Well, it’s finally happened.

Our baby girl has graduated from high school.

And it’s got me thinking . . .

It’s got me thinking about how tender and fragile life begins. Only 18 years ago we held Maddy in our arms as a teeny, tiny infant. Fully dependent upon us for everything then, she’s become a remarkable young lady, preparing to spread her wings and fly from our nest in the Fall as she heads off to college.

It’s got me thinking about her earliest years and the photos of the spaghetti-smeared face in the high chair. The first self-applied lipstick picture. The first bicycle ride. The skinned knee . . It’s got me thinking about her critical pulmonary illness as a youngster, and how terrified we were throughout those tense life-and-death moments . . . and how grateful we are that she has been blessed to be symptom-free for the past several years.

It’s got me thinking about how reluctant she was to move to Iowa from Minnesota . . . and how grateful she is today for all the special friends she has made since we moved here 11 years ago.

It’s got me thinking about her involvement in the fine arts in high school – marching band, wind ensemble, choir, show choir, drama. And it’s got me thinking about all those parent photo sessions before each Homecoming, Prom and Turn-About Dances.

It’s got me thinking about family vacations . . . and the times I was her hero by saving the day . . . and the times I had to take the unpopular stand because, despite the fact she couldn’t be convinced to see it at the time, it was in her best interest to do so.

It’s got me thinking about teaching her to drive. Ah yes, teaching her to drive . . . there’s just not enough space to recall that experience here. That she is a good driver today is one of my proudest accomplishments.

It’s got me thinking that memories are truly a gift to be treasured.

And, as I’ve run the replay reel of her childhood memories through my mind, it’s got me thinking that we’re not really losing our baby girl.

It’s got me thinking that we’re gaining an adult daughter. We are blessed.

And we Remember Well.