Sigh

I met him in 1984.
I had just made a major move.
Leaving all I knew behind me.
Desiring to find my family ahead of me.

No not cryptic at all!
Forced to live under rules of American paranoia,
We were hidden,
Protected,
Kept from any association with our biological family.

And I longed to find my family!
All I had was a name, an address and knowledge of my title.
Precious little to find my grandparents with!

But, I settled in a small rural area and first up was to settle into a church.
I really was afraid of the closest church to me.
It was much too large!
There was a great Sunday School for adults, however and I greatly drew to admire the teacher.
So much so, that I decided to adopt him a year later.

Yeah, I had not found my family - no one had any memory of them!
So, I filled that hole by adopting the Sunday School leader and his wife.
I really wanted to know what it meant to be a Christian man - in ALL aspects of life.
He was not too thrilled.
His wife instantly adopted me!
It was two years before I even had a hint that they had children!
Though I did know that they had "adopted" another young man,
Now an adult with kids in the youth group I led!

That was 35 years ago.
Since then he and I have strongly identified with one another.
In spite of my not enjoying watch ANY sporting events!
He is an utter sports fiend.

And now, the man who inspired me with such awe,
Is dying.
No even a shadow now of the man he was.
His mind really good at old stuff,
Not so great with what is happening today.
The opposite of me.
And he will go before me.
So doctors predict.

He visited for perhaps an hour before sleep overcame him.
His wife wants to let me have what ever I want of theirs,
Because she knows her daughters will sell everything for cash.
And make a real stink.
She knows I value things only as memories of who they belonged to.
And I am uncomfortable taking anything.

I know that to even take a book will set the daughters against me,
And should I live long enough, they both will need me - or similar,
In his absence.
As will the wife, my adoptive mother.
So, I am torn.
I know she will increase pressure to let me have a memorial.

Hmmmmm ....
Maybe a photo of the both of them at their 50th anniversary party.
Now there was a party!
Complete with all of the typical family angst!

Yeah, now I think about it,
That is a great idea!
Daughters will not care about a photograph,
Son in laws will not either.,
And their grandchildren will understand quite well.

When he passes, I will tell you about him.
He is quite intriguing as a man.
And unlike any German I have ever known!