My dad: Dan Harrison

Home, My Poems, My Story, Poems {Going Quietly Sane} 1 Minute

dadOriginally uploaded by M e l o d y

My father was diagnosed with two fatal brain tumors November 2002. This rendering (right) is of the last photo ever taken of him. Of course we had no idea that he was going to die a few days later.

I love it, because although he wasn’t able to speak by that time, he was watching his grand kids (my kids) play in the yard and this smile is sooo HIS SMILE! Makes me (smile) just looking at it.

For one human being to love another; that is perhaps the most difficult of all our tasks, the ultimate, the last test and proof, the work for which all other work is but preparation.  —    Rainer Maria Rilke

This is my dad.  I’m missing him today.  He died May 19th, 2003.  When I look at this picture, it still doesn’t seem to be real.

He traveled a lot.  He was gone as much as he was at home growing up.  So when I think of him as dead, well it’s really more of a gone feeling.  Which is very different than dead.

My dad was a mixed blessing.  I guess you take the good with the bad when it comes to parents.  Right now, I’d take anything from him.  I miss him so much.

With all I have learned about photography, I wish that I had one last chance to take his photo.  Oh how I would have loved that.

I’m looking to hear your thoughts about my dad.

I’ll write more later about mine.  I do have poems about him, but I don’t want to focus on that pain right now.  If you want to read them look under Poetry.

Published by Melody Harrison Hanson

I’m an overthinker and incessant seeker. I’m grateful for God’s grace. I write poetic thoughts and offer original photographs. I hope you will stay and read for a while. All photography and words are mine unless noted.

Published

8 thoughts on “My dad: Dan Harrison”

  1. Hi Mel,

    Thanks for your email. I’ll respond to it in a moment. I followed the link you sent to this blog and couldn’t keep from reading about Dan. When I saw his picture, I cried. He and I were friends for years and we were close, deep in partnership around the Gospel. I felt like I lost him before he died, but you know some of that story. But I did love him as men who are close to one another do and I have missed him. So reading your words and seeing the pictures just got to me.

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  7. “I’m looking to hear your thoughts about my dad.” How can I do this offline? I subscribed to L&I, so you have my address. gary klingler – PNG ’73-’80. Dallas ’80-’84

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Thanks so much for reading and sharing.

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