vagabond

When you all read this you will understand why I wish you
enough.

Recently I overheard a father and daughter in their
last moments together. Her departure had been
announced and standing near the security gate, they
hugged, and he said, "I love you. I wish you enough."

She said, "Daddy, our life together has been more than
enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you
enough, too, Daddy."

They kissed, and she left.

He walked over toward the window where I was seated.
"Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would
be forever?" he asked me.

"Yes, I have," I replied. Saying that, brought back
memories I had of expressing my love and appreciation
for all my Dad had done for me. "Forgive me for
asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?" I asked.

I am old, and she lives much too far away. I have
challenges ahead, and the reality is, the next trip
back would be for my funeral," he said.

"When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I
wish you enough.' May I ask what that means?"

He began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed
down from other generations. My parents used to say it
to everyone." "When we said, 'I wish you enough,' we
were wanting the other person to have a life filled
with just enough good things to sustain them," he
continued. Then turning toward me, he shared the
following as if he were reciting it from memory.

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit
alive. I wish you enough pain so that the smallest
joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you
possess.
I wish enough ''Hello's' to get you through the final
'Good-bye'."
He then began to sob and walked away.

My friends and loved ones, I wish you ENOUGH!