my courage runneth over

my dad had a heart attack last week-

it’s the kind of thing that happens to other people’s dads, you know?

My father is a rock. Solid. Constant.

Big smile, a laugh heartier than beef jerky.

A real bear of a man

When I heard what happened, he became daddy instead of just dad

mom became mommy

And my eyes became strained like overworked muscles

 we were instantly small

And our worry squeezed us like his constricting arteries

Out of control and waiting on a ledge of yes or no

But God stops some things before they even begin,

So he’s good to go- healing slow.

I ask him how he’s doing, if he’ll be alright, to not go into the light! Ha!

And all he says is “every day is a gift, babe- treat it that way.”