Today marks seventeen years that my family has lived without the physical presence of my dad, Jackie Wayne ‘Catfish’ Aiken, on this earth. He passed away in St. Vincent’s Hospital on Sunday, October 8, 2006, thirty-five days after going in. My mother had been with him every day. Make note of this: love is not about a warm, fuzzy feeling all the time. Love is a commitment you make to another person. Love is about dedication to a person and to the Lord in whose name you spoke the vows.
Just because Daddy isn’t with us physically, he is with us in so many more ways. The love that he and Mom shared hasn’t ceased; Deedee and I know that we are still his girls; the grandchildren that met him–Georgia, Robyn, Terry, and Katie…we know he is still a part of who we are. Our dear Jackson, Felicity, and Waylon who never met him, still reap the benefits of the love and care that he had for all of us.
I am so thankful that my Danny, Terry’s Lauren, and Georgia’s Trey also met Dad. Anyone who benefits from loving a child or grandchild of Jackie Aiken’s is just blessed. He was always ‘for’ us, he always wanted us to do things right, and he taught us what love is about.
I selfishly cry sometimes missing him. I wish he were here for us to cook up a storm at Thanksgiving…his favorite holiday. He always wanted us to be thankful for our blessings…and don’t dare call it ‘turkey day!’ Those were fighting words! Nevertheless, I know the awful situation of this world today and how poor his health condition would be if he were here.
I am so thankful that we haven’t lost him! As the preacher said at Aunt Shirley’s funeral, ‘You never lose anyone if you know where they are!’
Dad, I know you await the sound of that trumpet so you will get to see us again. We can’t wait for our Heavenly Father to give the go-ahead! It’s gonna be crowded near Jesus, but we will see you on that beautiful shore!
Love much and forever!
Patricia Lynn Aiken ‘Aunt Puh’ Reed
Tickled with Life
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