Hawk

Larry Lee Hawkins was the name his Mama gave him.
But everyone just called him “Hawk”.

I’ve struggled for words tonight, this being my third attempt to write something meaningful that could possibly do any justice to Hawk’s memory.
But the words don’t come.
Not yet.
I think our wounds are still too fresh.

I can however, share a story with you from today.
I consider it Hawk’s last gift to us.
Maybe it’s all the words needed, to describe the kind of man he was.

We were driving home from his Memorial Service.
It was held up in Beatrice Nebraska, the boys’ hometown.
A difficult day no doubt, it was made even more stressful by the weather.

We knew it was coming; it had been forecasted since last night.
We hit it dead on.
An icy, snowy mix nearly blinded us as Mike navigated the truck south on I-29 towards home.
We were all tired and our nerves were shot.
It was a dangerous combination.

No one was talking much either.
There was no movie in the overhead DVD.
No iPod’s in anyone’s ears.
The kids, and Mike’s Mom who had come along, were just melancholy.
I was a bundle of nerves.

“Look, there’s a hawk!” Mike said suddenly, and pointed to a light pole alongside the highway.
“And there’s another one on that pole” Nick added.
We all looked out the windows and were amazed by what we saw.
As we traveled down the highway, there was a hawk perched on almost every other light pole.

Given the weather conditions, one would think they would be seeking shelter.
Not openly exposing themselves to it.

Call me crazy…but those weren’t just ordinary hawks up on those poles.
They were our “Guardian Hawks”.
Seemingly, they were guiding us home.

I-29 was closed behind us a short time later.
But we made it home safe and grateful.

Grateful to Hawk, who had our back…
One last time.