Seeing my Father in a New Light

I never expected to see my father in a bright orange jump suit.

When I was 7 or 8 I remember my mother telling my brother Travis and I that we were going to see my dad. The memory that I have of that trip to see my father was a very memorable one for me. It was one of the first times I got to see him since before he went to prison.

I remember my mother pulling up in a big white van that she rented for our long eight hour trip. The anticipation of wanting to get there was unbearable for my brother and me. I remember the drive there like it was yesterday. We left on a sunny summer morning, I can still see the damp grass sparkling from morning dew. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and the wild flowers along the highway were so beautiful. I know the trip was not easy for my mother trying to deal with two rambunctious children. I remember being so excited I kept asking my mother, "are we there yet?" I know we must have drove her crazy asking so many questions.

As we continued the drive my brother and I fell asleep until we arrived at our hotel for the night. I remember asking my mom, “what are we were doing here?" She responded with a sweet sympathetic smile, "We can't go see him tonight. You want to spend all day with him don't you?" I quickly shook my head "yes." She replied, "That's why we’re going after we eat breakfast in the morning." My heart was overflowing with joy. I couldn't believe that tomorrow was so close. I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep that night. It felt like waiting for Christmas day and getting to rip all of my presents open. Except instead of getting presents I was going to see my dad and that was a present all in its self.

Waking up that morning, I jumped out of bed and got dressed all on my own and sat and waited impatiently for my mother to get Travis ready to go. Pulling into the prison I saw a sign that said "TL Roach Unit." Surrounding the sign and along the pathway to the prison were many different colors of flowers that were so beautiful. Looking back now at that moment I saw those flowers, I didn't know that my father was the one that planted and took care of those flowers. For me it was symbolic in a way. My father was in a place so dark and scary but yet he was able to find something to do that made the prison appear more beautiful.

Despite the beautiful flowers, walking into the prison was intimidating. Tall over powering barbed wire fences, prison guards towering over me with guns and handcuffs, locks turning, metal doors slamming and buzzers buzzing people in and out of doors. I felt so close to the anticipated moment but felt so far away.

We walked into an all-white room with about fifty metal tables. Those few minutes waiting for my father felt like an eternity. My mother, Travis and I were sitting at a metal table when I heard a loud buzz I jerked my head around and there was my father.

With happy tears rolling down my face I ran and greeted my father with the biggest hug in the world.