In Your Image

It has been 7 years since my father passed away from brain cancer, specifically Glioblastoma. Growing up as a kid, my parents always talked about giving folks their flowers while folks are alive. They advised against spending too much time at the grave site, as they believed the spirit of a person does not reside there. Despite their wise words, dealing with the loss has been much harder than expected. 

Today is August 12th, the anniversary of his passing, my heart feels heavy thinking about the love and conversations that are now only memories. I miss the man who I once thought could accomplish anything. When I look in the mirror each morning, I see both myself and my father, which is both comforting and scary.

As a child, I vowed to be different from my dad in every way - in how I dressed, walked, shaved, and spoke. I wanted to carve out my own identity and personality. Ironically, as I resisted becoming like him, I realized that I am more similar to him than I ever thought.

I catch myself wanting to put a note on the thermostat at home saying, “. If you're not Jonathan Lee, hands off!” or repeating his sayings like, “You need to put in 10,000 hours of practice to be great,” or “Make your bed!” or “Go ask your mother.” And of course, “Back in my day, things were much tougher…”

Dad, I love you. This week, we are embarking on adventures in your memory. We are exploring California, my birthplace, and where you met Mom, among other significant places.

We have curated a playlist to capture the essence of the West Coast (centered around the new American Hero- Snoop Dogg- you’ve witnessed the Olympics from on high so you know…) We have big plans for this week!

Though you may no longer be with us, your presence is felt every day. Every time I look in the mirror or interact with my family, I am reminded of the values and inspiration you instilled in me. You may be physically gone, but you will never be forgotten.