Thankful for Our Last Round

My Dad called me the morning of August 9, 2010. He asked if I wanted to get a round of golf in before I had to head back to school, I hate to admit it now, but at the time I wasn't interested. We all know how "busy" August can be when getting ready to head back to school.  
Reluctantly, I took my Dad up on his offer. As we walked off the second green it started to rain. My Dad always preferred to ride when he golfed, so we quickly jumped into our cart and pulled under the Linden tree that you see over to the left. We parked exactly where my bag is standing. I don't remember the specifics of our conversation that day, but I do remember a vivid feeling of happiness. Happy that I chose to take my Dad up on his offer of a round of golf. It was a round full of great conversations. I played playing exceptionally well for that late in the season. I remember I shot one under that 9 and was relishing the compliments about my game from my father. Little did I know it would be our last round of golf together before he passed unexpectedly ten weeks later from a stroke.

I find myself smiling each time I walk by that tree, thankful that I said "yes" to my Dad that Monday in August of 2010.