To My Dad - the Greatest Man I Ever Knew

it’s been three months since i’ve lost you- i remember all the good times we’ve been through. in my final breath i shall exclaim to mankind, that you were the greatest man i ever knew- patient and generous, with a smile so kind, with those baby blue eyes that always shined. you taught me about life and sobriety, though you were fine without notoriety- without you my yellow has turned to blue, my days are hollow filled with anxiety; simple and a gentleman with a heart true, for you were the greatest man i ever knew tragedy has stricken once more for me, when will the tides meet the soft sea? you loved golf and always shot par, a hole in one you earned at age twenty-three! in heaven with Karen, you now are, together in harmony, no longer afar. i made my peace with you on your deathbed, though not sure if you heard what i said- never angry with temper, nor ever rude, you never followed others, only led. i made sure you knew i was full of gratitude, and how your sense of humor lightened my mood. i said, “dad, please know i love you so, and your legacy in my heart, i shan’t let go- i promise to live life from your point of view, and hold Ella Rose when she misses you so- in my final breath i shall exclaim to you… you were the greatest man I ever knew... and thank you for raising me to be just like you.” ______________________________________ To my adoring father, Frank Cernak III who passed away from a rare disease at the end of March of this year. It was sudden and tragic, but I made sure his funeral was perfectly beautiful. We celebrated his legacy of being sober for 35 years. I am so proud of him- there are no words. like I said above...thank you for raising me to be just like you dad... love, your baby girl, Laura Marie