Writing Wednesday is a place for me to write whatever I want to write.
There are only a few conversations I have had in my life that I actually remember them word for word. The following conversation occurred between me and my Father-In-Law, Perry Ficklin, a few years ago, just before BYU was to play Wisconsin in football:
Papa: Wisconsin is coming to be beat by BYU in a few weeks.
Me: I heard, think you can score me a couple tickets? (He was the king of getting tickets to BYU games.)
Papa: I could, but not if you are going to cheer for Wisconsin and wear RED!
Me: Hmm. What if I wore some blue?
Papa: It can't just be blue, it has to be the right kind of blue and have BYU written on it.
Me: If you get me tickets, I will wear something BYU.
Papa: I guess, but I'm still not happy about it.
On game day, I went to visit him in his usual seat at halftime, wearing my red Wisconsin Football shirt and a newly purchased royal blue BYU hat.
 |
| My friend, Kari and I. Notice the blue and red! |
Me: Hey Papa. Quite a game, huh?
Papa: You still cheering for that other team?
Me: Maybe, but I feel bad for your blue team and I do have the BYU hat so I can cheer both ways.
Papa: I guess that is okay, sweetheart, but that hat isn't too much blue.
 |
| Papa in his happy place. Lavell Edwards Stadium |
Papa passed away on February 11th, just hours after I visited him wearing a BYU shirt and that same BYU hat. I whispered in his ear the following as he rested peacefully under a morphine dose:
Me: Papa, we both know I hate the Cougars, but I, from now on, I will represent them always. It's okay for you to go Papa, you have taught me so much. I love you.
Papa was a true legacy of faithfulness and kindness. He was a friend to all and will be sorely missed. He truly was Papa: The Man. The Myth. The Legend. Which was written on a shirt we gave to him for Fathers' Day a few years back.
May he always be our angel now and keep us safe.
