February 2 makes a sad anniversary. It was on that day, 17 years ago that I had to say goodbye to my dad.
We were never very close when I was growing up. I always felt that he was somehow disappointed in my being gay. It wasn’t until the end of his life that I discovered that was never the case. He just didn’t know how to tell me that he was proud of me and he loved me just the way I was. How I wish I could have just five more minutes with him to tell him that he did an amazing job raising me and my siblings.
When Alex and I were in the Netherlands in 2018, we were able to visit the cemetery where Dad’s ashes were laid to rest in the crypt holding his beloved mother and father.
When we were there, I was able to spend a few minutes by myself with my thoughts and so we got to talking. I told him about my life, about Alex and how things were so good with me. I think he would be happy to know that.
Al Zylstra 