At an airport I overheard a father and daughter 
in their last moments together. They had 
announced her plane's departure and standing 
near the door She said, "Daddy, our life together
 has been more than enough. Your love is all I 
ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Daddy."
They kissed  good-bye and she left.
        
He walked over toward the window where I was 
seated. Standing there I could see he wanted 
and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on 
his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, 
"Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing 
it would be forever?"
        
"Yes, I have," I replied. Saying that brought 
back memories I had of expressing my love and 
appreciation for all my Dad had done for me. 
Recognizing that his days were limited, I 
took the time to tell him face to face how much 
he meant to me. So I knew what this man was 
experiencing.
        
"Forgive me for asking, but why is this a 
forever good-bye?"  I asked. "I am old and 
she lives much too far away. I have challenges 
ahead and the reality is, her next trip back will 
be for my funeral," he said.

"When you were saying good-bye I heard you say, 
'I wish you enough.' May I ask what that means?" 
He began to smile. "That's a wish that  has been 
handed down from other generations. My parents 
used to say it to  everyone." He paused for a 
moment and looking up as if trying to remember 
it in detail, he smiled even more.
        
"When we said 'I wish you enough,' we were 
wanting the other person to have a life filled 
with enough good things to sustain them," he  
continued and then turning toward me he shared 
the following as if he were reciting it from memory.
        
I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in 
life appear much bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you 
possess.
I wish enough "Hello's" to get you through the final 
"Good-bye."
        
He then began to sob and walked away.