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<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
My dad has always been the adventurous type, and I definitely take after him in that way. It\u2019s something we\u2019ve always had in common.<\/p>\n
A week before his birthday, I visited him at the nursing home, and he said, \u201cFill up your tank\u2014we\u2019ve got a long journey ahead!\u201d I was confused, especially when he mentioned some \u201cvery important meeting.\u201d When I asked for details, all he said was, \u201cYou\u2019ll find out soon enough!\u201d<\/p>\n
So, in true adventurous spirit, I went along with his wild idea. Three days before his birthday, we hit the road, heading for a coastal town he\u2019d pointed out on the map.<\/p>\n
After a couple of exhausting days on the road, we finally made it. Dad was visibly nervous, and we waited for what felt like forever on an empty beach. Suddenly, a young woman, maybe 25, approached us from behind.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been waiting for you,\u201d she said, breaking the silence.
\nMy dad blinked. \u201cDo I know you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. But my grandfather does.\u201d<\/p>\n
She was Ellie, and her story unraveled like a thread I didn\u2019t know had been pulled.<\/p>\n
Ellie\u2019s grandfather was the person my dad was here to meet. 60 years ago, the two of them had been Boy Scouts together. They\u2019d made a pact to meet on this very beach on my dad\u2019s 75th birthday, no matter what.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut he\u2019s sick,\u201d Ellie said softly, her words laced with regret. \u201cHe\u2019s blind now, and bedridden. He couldn\u2019t make the trip himself, but he made me promise to come in his place. And to give you this. Happy Birthday.\u201d<\/p>\n
She handed my dad a small gift-wrapped box.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
He opened it slowly, and when he saw what was inside, he let out a strangled laugh. It was a baseball card in pristine condition, encased in a plastic sleeve.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the same card,\u201d he said, his voice thick with disbelief. \u201cThe same one I begged him to give me, but he wouldn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ellie nodded. \u201cHe\u2019s kept it all these years. He said it was his way of remembering you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dad\u2019s eyes filled with tears.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have to see him,\u201d he said, his voice breaking. \u201cI have to thank him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ellie hesitated.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a five-hour drive,\u201d she said gently. \u201cAnd he\u2019s\u2026 he\u2019s not doing well. I don\u2019t know if\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going,\u201d Dad interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument. \u201cRight now.\u201d<\/p>\n
The drive to Ellie\u2019s grandfather\u2019s house was tense. Dad was restless, and muttering under his breath like he was willing time to speed up.<\/p>\n
I knew how much this meant to him, and there was no way I was going to let him down.<\/p>\n
As we finally arrived, the house was quiet. Ellie\u2019s mother met us at the door, her face pale and solemn.
\n\u201cHe passed away this morning,\u201d she said gently. \u201cJust after you left, Ellie.\u201d<\/p>\n
My dad staggered back, his breath hitching as he shook his head.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d he murmured, his voice cracking. \u201cNo, we made a promise.\u201d<\/p>\n
His shoulders heaving with the kind of grief I\u2019d never seen from him before. This was the man who had been my rock, my hero, and now he was breaking right in front of me.<\/p>\n
I kneeled beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder.<\/p>\n
\u201cDad,\u201d I said quietly. \u201cThe promise was honored. He sent Ellie and he sent the card. He remembered you.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked at me, his eyes red and raw. \u201cBut I didn\u2019t get to see him. I didn\u2019t get to say goodbye.\u201d<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t have the right words to fix it, but I stayed with him, my hand steady on his shoulder as the waves of sorrow crashed over him.<\/p>\n
Some promises, I realized, didn\u2019t need witnesses to matter. Maybe this was one of them.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
My dad has always been the adventurous type, and I definitely take after him in that way. It\u2019s something we\u2019ve always had in common. A week before… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":20436,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20435","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n