My Daddy

Never had I thought we will part this way.

No last word, no last glance, not a goodbye, not even time for a sigh, not a thing at all. It still feel like a bad dream. Too surreal to be real. In a split of a second, not barely long enough to blink, my world is upside down. I became the kid who suddenly realized that she is the last one left in the emptied playground, alone in the chilling darkness, wondering where did all the sunshine and happiness go?

My Daddy is an honorable man. He is preciously adorable in his way about living his life. In his sixty-three years, twelve days, and an hour thirty minutes of existence, he has truly lived every second. He has fulfilled his duty as a loyal son to his (overbearing) parents, protecting big brother to his (undeserving) siblings, a loving husband to my mom, an excellent father to me and my brother. And more so, he was a charming leader, soft-at-heart boss, and a great friend to all those who has the chance to know him.

He has the charisma of a man who has traveled places, seen the world, experienced all its exquisite refinery, but still managed to keep his purity and stayed true to his fundamental. My dad is fiercely attached to his root and land. He was born, raised, and eventually died in the very same place in his beloved Kaohsiung city. He was proud to be a Southerner, and in the years I came back to Taiwan, his enthusiasm taught me to be proud as one too. He put hin passion into action and delivered through his work. In the last ten years of his life, he was devoted to the local development projects. He told me that a transportation infrastructure is essential in upgrading Kaohsiung city into a world-class competitive city. Regardless what biased images the ridiculous Taiwan political TV talkshow clowns painted the KMRT to be, my father overcame all the obstacles and did what he set out to do for his city. His action proved that he is not just a dreamer, but a man of his words and belief.

In his sixty-some years, he has gone through more highs and lows than most people can with a few lifetimes combined. Throughout it all, my daddy kept his optimism, good humor, and courage. Even during the most difficult time, he was gracefully true to himself. He fought for his name and honor until his last day. He held on until the last innocent verdict was delivered, silenced the political-incensed critics, before taking his departure. Through the last four years of the legal battles, he never showed any sign of weakness, and never bowed to any evil.

However public image people might have of my dad, what they do not know is his private side. He is a great family man. He is a romantic. He and my mom are in love with each other from the time they met till the day he left this world. In my heart I know he loves me. I am truly a daddy's girl. He adores me, which makes me the luckiest girl ever exists until we had to say goodbye. We had a perfect family. Perfect and happy.

My daddy is a gentleman. He is old school in his social values. A clear sense of right and wrong, black and white, truth and lie. He conducts himself with strong emphasis on moral and ethic. Always humble, low-key, and rarely speak ill of others. It made him who he is, honorable, loyal, respectful, and forgiving.

He is also a jolly big kid, mentally young for his age. He is forever new school in his curiosity. He loves new toys, goes for the latest trends, likes to hangout with friends, enjoys traveling, loves gourmet food, indulges in junk food while mom is not around, reads manga and martial art novels, good at all gambling games, loves all Jacky Chan and Jean-Claude van dam's movies.

My daddy has many friends and makes friends easily. He is generous with everyone, perhaps more so than my mom likes him to. Personally, I think he is Peter Pan. Always surrounded himself with friends and good fun, never boring, never depressed, always curious and upbeat. I guess he decided to leave this world because he has finally grown up. Therefore it was time for him to go, to move on to a new place, to meet new people.

I have been thinking if there was that chance for me to say the last word with him, what can that be. There seem so much I want to say to him, yet nothing I can think of. Never before that day had I really thought of my life without him around, thus I cannot prepare for it. I cannot quite grasp the idea of death until it happened. When it happened, it seems that no farewell can sum up my emotion about his departure. Even now I am still empty with the right last word to say except repeating, each and every time: "Daddy I miss you".

I wish you are still here. I miss you terribly.