The Comedy of David Dean

Hey bud…

I know you are crazy busy packing up everything but I wanted to write you tonight. I’ve said it a thousand times already, but we loved having you here at home these past 3 weeks. Time FLEW by way too fast. I didn’t sleep well last night thinking about you leaving. After our good-byes with you at the airport this morning…I thought I would burn off some anxiety and mow the PAL baseball diamonds. A ton of memories came rushing back to me as I drove the mower around those outfields. As fate would have it, a Dad and his young boys came out and played catch with each other. I just turned the mower off and watched them. And cried.

Playing catch, shooting hoops..all of that Dad/Son stuff we did while you were here was good for my soul. (Not good for my shoulder, though). But I got to thinking about it today as I watched that Dad and his young boys playing ball and felt like I needed to say I’m sorry. Sorry for pushing you too hard when you were young and playing different sports. In hindsight, I should have just enjoyed the moment…which I did, but wanted so badly for you to hit the home run, pitch the no-hitter, sack the quarterback or hit the winning lay-up. Call it the curse of parenting/coaching. We only see one player on the field and that player is ours.

Once, during one of your High School football games, a dear friend leaned over to me and asked if I could recall the names of the starting offensive lineman from my Senior year. I couldn’t. He looked at me and said, “Exactly.” What did he tell me? That game…that night lasts but a few hours. However, the impact you make in life will leave a legacy. I say it all the time….I’m proud of ya, son.

We have been so incredibly blessed with people telling us they are praying for you. Many of our friends are in the same boat as Mom and I saying good-bye as their kids head off to college. And, we have had 3 friends say good-bye to their spouses who left for either Iraq or Afghanistan. Seems like when our hearts are heavy, God sends people into our lives who know how we feel. And He speaks wisdom into their words.

A few close friends who have known you since you were little, well….you were never little, but since you were young…HA, they noticed that while you were home, at times you seemed a bit distant. You and I talked about this one night and like I shared with you, I also shared with them. I’ve never had to say good-bye to family and friends for a year. Sometimes it’s just nice to silently drink in the moment.

 And we enjoyed all the “moments” with you. Cubs and Bears in a DAY? Fantastic!! Our cook-outs with family and friends, your time with Audrey, church together, family devotions and prayer time, a visit with Heath. Most importantly….Thank You for teaching me how to watch movies in the basement using your Xbox. As soon as Mom and Hannah turn on ANY reality show, I want to cut my arms off. So…you saved my life.

We will do our best to see you off at Fort Hood on August 24th. The tickets are pricy. I have enough frequent flier miles but I don’t know if our hearts can stand another send-off. Keep praying, OK?

Take good care of “Buzz Lightyear”. I keep “Woody” on my desk and he is holding the marksmanship medal around his arm that you earned. It’s my profile picture. When I think of those two buddies….it makes me think of you and I. “You’ve got a friend in me.” That is why I wrote 2 Timothy 1:3-4 on their heads. So that some late night when you are sitting in a tank on the outskirts of Karbala, Iraq, you will recall what Paul said to young Timothy: “Every time I say your name in prayer-which is practically all the time- I thank God for you, the God I worship with my whole life in the tradition of my ancestors. I miss you a lot, especially when I remember that last tearful good-bye, and I look forward to a joy-packed reunion.”

I love you with all my heart, son.

Dad