The standard closing line on Dick's posts was "Wishing all enough". For those who don't know what that means, it was from a story that Dick's son gave him about a month before the son's death, from brain cancer. It took some searching in the archives, but it just seemed like the story should be posted to this thread....Wishing you all enough...
"Wishing You Enough."
Recently at an airport I overheard a father and daughter in their last
They kissed and she left. He walked over toward the windows where I was
"Yes, I have", I replied, "forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever
"I am an old man and she lives much to far away. I have challenges ahead and the
"When you were saying good-bye I heard you say 'I wish you enough'. May
He began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other
"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright. I wish you enough rain
Tears filled his eyes and walked away. My friend, I wish you enough!
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 turned and said "Daddy, our life together has been more than
enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Daddy."
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?"
good-bye?" I asked.
reality is, the next trip back would be for my funeral," he said.
I ask what that means?"
generations. My parents use to say it to everyone." He paused for a
moment and looking 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 from memory.
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 you enough 'Hello's' to
get you through the final 'Good-bye.'"
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