The last time I saw my DAD

While my dad did pass away in September, the last time I had gotten a chance to see him was the beginning of August.  It is a treat that my dad had thought of visiting me that weekend with my mom.  He had a dairy event to attend to in Milwauke, and he figured that since he was that close to us, might as well come and see our new home in Georgia.  He called me about it, and made my day hearing that he was going to be coming!!  I started brainstorming thinking of all the fun things we could go do, and that we wanted to show them.  We had such an amazing weekend the four of us.  We really ended up hanging out more then anything else.  We did go to Stone Mountain one day and that was awesome!  It was Brandon and I's first trip there as well.  We did everything there and had a great time.  I think that night, we also ended up doing a movie night too.  We watched 2 movies in a row, and my dad stayed up for both till 1 in the morning!  Beyond impressed.  Actually the last movie we watched together was The Hangover.  He about died laughing through it!  He always loved a good comedy.
I loved that my parents were there.  While Georgia was treating us well, I still was VERY homesick for my family.  I missed them so much!  I think that that is something that makes my father's death even worse.  I was already missing him when he was on the dairy, and now I know that he is not there at all.  Our goodbyes at the airport were HARD!  I did not want to watch them go.  That day though, I was really suprised by my goodbye with my dad the most.  Every time I think about it, and now as I am writing it, I begin to tear up and cry.  This goodbye was different, and it is painful to think that it was the last time I got hugs and kisses from my dad.  He would say goodbye to me, give me that look of pride and joy along with a look which read, I miss that you aren't in CA, but I know it is good for you here.  He even said it over and over again to me.  He would say bye to Brandon, and then he would be back again for another hug.  I know he wanted to go back home to the dairy, but at the same time, his looks and hugs were one that felt different.  Almost like he did not want to let go.  My mom started to move toward the baggage check in as I got into the car crying, but my dad did not move.  He just kept standing there at the curb staring at me right into my eyes.  He did not budge but just continued to wave and blew a kiss as we drove away.  This is my last picture of him in my mind.