Phillip John Atkinson

I love you Dad, you truly are my hero, what will I do without you in my life. How does a son really say goodbye to his Dad, there’s simply not enough words or time to tell you how much you truly do mean to me. You are the best Dad anyone could ever ask for. I just wish I could have done more for you, and I just wish we had more time left together, your way too young to leave us and you should have many more years left here with us. I need you to guide me through this, it is the hardest thing I have ever had to go through. I do not know how I will live without you. I feel like my world has just shattered, and I am truly heartbroken to lose you. We have become incredibly close since we started working together for a while over ten years ago, and I have a hole in my heart that I don’t think will ever be filled. How can I go from seeing and talking to you everyday of my life over the last few years, to never ever seeing you again. I still wait for the sound of you pulling up out the front and the boy’s yelling out in excitement that Pop’s here You never stop to think what life has meant, until reality hits you like a tonne of bricks and brings you to your knees. You try to ride behind your pride thinking you can hide these feelings deep within you. But these feeling are simply too great to ignore and they force there way to the surface. But I know I will get through this, with the strength that you have given me. Even though you have passed I will always remember that you gave me life and your guidance and lasting legacy are forever engraved in me. Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, and faith looks up, but instead I must look forward and continue to be strong. I am a strong person thanks to you Dad, and I know you were forever proud of me, no matter what was happening as I grew older. You knew who I really am, and you always had great faith in me no matter what. You always gave me unconditional love. You were the kindest and most caring man in the world but at the same time you were as hard and tough as nails. I remember when I was a little boy and you took me to work with you at blue circle. I use to think your truck was the biggest truck in the world Dad, I thought u were the strongest man in the world and nothing could ever hurt you. You were always so full of endless love for me, you were my mentor, my saviour and my foundation, you were so strong willed being my rock, and it will be so hard to live without you in my life. You were my co pilot, guiding me through every twist and turn that life could throw at me. You might think I was sent to you but in reality you were really sent to me. You really were a truly amazing man. You really were my everything. You absolutely cherished Mum and loved her more than life itself, and I know you and Mum truly were soul mates, I have never seen two people with more complete and utter unconditional love for one another, I honestly cant remember the two of you ever having a fight, you barely ever argued and if you did it was probably because of something I had done. Mum is a truly strong woman but I know how much she loves you, and I know her heart will ache for your loss forever. Apart from my partner and children, Mum is the only person I love as much as I love you. Her love for you is even greater than mine so I know she is truly heartbroken. The more loss and sorrow we feel, the more grateful we are for the life we had with you. It means we have something worth grieving for. The pain we feel is a way of you making us a stronger person. Grief is the price we pay for love, and we loved you more than anything. You did so much for so many people, you never said no to anybody, all anyone had to do was ask, most of the time they didn’t even have to ask, and you would help out in anyway you could. Though I may never feel your touch or hear your words, my memories and inner self will always remember your voice and face. I can always talk to you, as my memories of you, keep you alive in me. If I need to see you I can just look in the mirror, as you are a part of me. There is a land of the living and a land of the passed and there is a bridge of love that separates us both.  As long as the love remains, the bridge will remain forever connecting us, I know you will always watch and guide me from my side. Remember that love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, love never ends.  This means that even though you may have left physically, your love will remain forever. I know if I keep you true in my thoughts, you will forever continue to build my layers of strength. I know you have not truly gone as you are a part of me and you will always be with me, and as long as my heart beats, you will continue to grow with me, the same blood flows through my veins, each heartbeat is a part of yours. In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years, and you gave us all some of the greatest, which we all will treasure and remember forever. As a well-spent day brings peaceful sleep, so a life well used brings peaceful death, so its time to rest now Dad, you have earned it more than anybody. You don’t have to worry about anything anymore its time to be at peace, I know that you are safe in John and Michael's embrace. Anyway Dad, I could go on forever, but may the wind always be at your back, and the sun always upon your face, and may the wings of destiny carry you aloft to dance with the stars.  So I’ll see you later Dad, as it is never goodbye, and I know I will see you again one day. I will never ever forget you Dad, and I will never stop loving you. I love you dad. Now, always and forever. Rest in peace.