Recently at an airport
I overheard a father and daughter in their last moments together.
They had announced her departure and standing near the security
gate, they hugged and he said, "I love you, I wish you enough."
She in turn 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. Standing there I could see
he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his
privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say
good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?"
"Yes, I have," I replied,
"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." He paused for a moment
and looking up as if trying to remember it in detail, he smiled
even more. "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 and 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."
Tears filled his eyes and he walked
away.
