He’s the man in the cowboy hat. Tough but fair, he lived by the cowboy code.
He’s the math teacher who made algebra fun–no easy feat! The principal, who went the extra mile for his staff and students. For forty-two years, he worked as an educator.
He’s the dad who always showed up. He travelled 1,400 miles to be there in the audience at my first book reading in 2014 (see photo). In his cowboy hat, of course.
Two years ago, after dementia had begun to rob him of his independence, I asked him the hardest question: If you can’t stay at home, where do you want to live? Without hesitation, he told me: Close to you.
And off we went on our journey from Texas to California. From hundreds of acres to a single room in a memory care unit. From daughter to caregiver. From father to patient. The journey was hard and slow but much too fast. There were tears and laughter and moments I’d never want to live again but wouldn’t trade. I am grateful for every mile of our journey because we traveled it side by side.
When I moved my dad into the memory care unit, I created a special sign that hung outside of his room to remind him of all the roles he played. Math teacher, principal, cowboy, dad. At the end of each visit, I’d prompt him to read the sign to me. Proudly, he’d recite each word, his big smile growing bigger until he reached his favorite word at the end. Mine too.
Dad.
***
After my father passed away in January of this year, I received many messages from his former students and staff members, sharing how he had impacted their lives. This was one of my favorites, from a student, which I’ve edited for readability:
I have a picture of me and Mr. K. after I received an award. I had no family there at the ceremony. Mr. K stood with me in the picture so I wasn’t in it alone. He wasn’t just a great educator. He was a good man.
Indeed. A good man and a great father.
