The Perfect Stick Figure Family

One year after Kevin died I took the kids to Virginia Beach for vacation. I had been searching stores for some time for those stick figure family decals that have been popping up on cars everywhere. As we walked along the strip of tourist shops I almost passed them in the window of a cute store. My sister-in-law spotted them and quickly pulled me in to check them out. After wanting them for so long, I couldn't pass them up. So, I bought a dad, a mom, two daughters, two sons, and two dogs for $33. 

I've had them on the back window of my mini-van ever since that vacation in September 2009. And, it's bothered me the entire time. We're not a whole family. Kevin is missing. The dad. The husband. The rock. People pass my car and think, "What a perfect family." But, we're not a perfect family. The one who held things together, cooked awesome dinners, fixed things when they broke, coached the kids' sports teams, brought laughter to our hearts, and taught us how to be good people, is gone.

I've tried several times over the months to find a stick figure father with wings. Tonight, I finally found one. I wish with everything inside me that I could be like everyone else and put a soccer coach, golfer, handyman, businessman, or fireman on my back window. 

Instead of having the perfect stick figure family, we have an angel, a heartbroken mom, and four devastated kids. Which, by the way, I've been looking for stick figures to depict our broken hearts, with no luck.

© 2011 by Jennifer M. Karn