my dad

My dads name was Maurice Aaron, but everyone called him Sonny. He was the only boy out of 5 children so my grandpa called him Sonny boy. I wish he could have been in my life more. I always wondered why he wasn't. Did he dislike me? Was it because I was fat? Was it because he loved his new family more? Was it because of my mom? I guess I will never know for sure.
I really loved to be with my dad. We got to eat Slim Jims and thick bologna when we were with him. He always had a horse and lived out in the country. I wish things could have been different. I never understood why he didn't save me when I was being abused, when I lived in the shelter and foster home. I still do not understand that. He should have protected me from all of that.
When I was about 9 my dad married a woman and they had a little girl together. I was soooo jealous of the little girl. My step mom was very mean. She told me that my dad didn't love or need me anymore because he had a new family. I remember when I stayed with them and she would make herself, my dad, and their daughter steak and feed me hot dogs. Dad would always offer me some of his steak but if I were to take it I would get into big trouble the next day when he was at work. She was a very mean woman. She and my dad divorced when I was about 13, thank goodness! Next he married Bessie (when I was about 18) she is one of the greatest ladies I have ever met. She really loved me and cared about what was going on in my life. She got my dad to call me and they would come and visit me at times. My dad became ill with lung cancer. He lived for a few years after being diagnosed but it was a very hard few years for him. My dad had always been a big strong man but when he died he was very very thin and having to wear diapers and be spoon fed. It was so horrible to see him that way. I was standing by his bed when he passed. It looked like he just fell asleep. I was very sad but in a way I was thankful because I knew that his suffering had ceased and that he was in Heaven. He had just days before accepted Jesus as his Savior. I was so relieved when I heard that he had asked Jesus to come into his heart for now I knew he would go to heaven and be there waiting for me when it was my time to go. After he died my younger sister told me that Dad had always referred to me as the pretty one. I know it sounds silly but that meant so much to me. It was good to know that he even thought about me but to know he thought I was pretty made me feel really special because you see I had never ever thought of myself as being pretty. Even now when I look into the mirror and am feeling really bad about myself I remember that my dad thought I was pretty. I really miss him. I miss what should have been. I wish that I had tried harder to be a part of his life instead of letting what I thought was past rejection keep me away from him. I cant go back in time but I hope that when it is my time to go he will be there waiting for me so that I can make sure he knows how much I loved him and how much I wish he could have been in my life more.
Because of this tragedy I learned to make sure that everyone that I love knows that I love them. I don't want to die leaving my loved ones full of unanswered questions. Remember to live each day as if it were your last. Tell your family how special they are to you. Hug your kids every time you get the chance. You can never show to much affection to those that are special to you. Never leave someone with unanswered questions.