Yes, I think my father was a Prince among Men.

He was very special and seemed to bring the good out in everyone. He always seemed to have a smile and wherever he went, he would leave his smile. You may be down, sad and lonely but if my father touched your path, you would end up with a BIG SMILE as he left. He seemed to touch many lives, not just his dear family, but all who knew and came in contact with him. Little children called him daddy whether they be white or black, Mexican or Oriental. He was the neighborhood Pied Piper. I remember my sister and I would get jealous as children. We would say "that's our dad." Little did we know then our friends felt love and safety around my father. They knew he was genuine and loved all peoples.

As I grew older and saw the next generation of little boys and girls crowding around my father, with the smiles and respect on their faces it made me proud. Proud to be able to call this Haitian Prince "my dad." Even in my fathers last days on this earth these dear dear ones would stop by and ask to "please be allowed to go up and visit daddy." Not once did I see a dry eye as they said their goodbyes.

Not long ago one of the children's mother stopped me as I rushed to get to my car to go somewhere unimportant. She said, "Cathy, I just want you to know something is missing here. The neighborhood is just not the same. Your father seemed to bring sunshine to everyone and now there seems to be a cloud blocking it out. I just want you to know that we ALL miss Lee. We all lost someone special that day, but heaven inherited an Angel." I was left speechless. I just sat in my car and visioned my dad as he took his nightly walk. He was like a magnet, drawing peoples toward him. He may not have moved mountains or ruled countries, but he lived his life the best way he knew how.. by giving and sharing of himself.

I thank God for giving me this wonderful man in my life. A wonderful childhood and many wonderful memories. I thank God for all that I am, and all that I may be. As a dear friend told me yesterday, "Cat, your father is not gone, because he lives on in you."
I thank God for letting me be Touched by this Angel.
This has been A Letter to Myself...A Reflection
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