A Sailor of the Seas

That was our Father, the sailor in white who traveled across the seas in sunset delight. The salt and summer heat always kept him away from where my mother did sleep. We always waited for that knock on the door and for his hat he would wave, to let us know Dad was home on stay. To us, he was secretly the cracker jackman who filled us with sweets every time the sand touched his feet. His uniform always looked new, so shiny was his shoes. Because we could see ourselves in them, we were amused. Years have passed and we are grown and now understand all he gave to our family, our country and our home. A sailor of the seas for thirty years. A Naval man full of pride, memories, and some tears. Today his picture hangs on the wall and reminds us of where we came from and for us, all who has in the name of freedom, fought. We are as proud of him as we can be but to that little girl of yesterday, he is still the cracker jackman to me.