Picture this scene: Dad and my brother Greg are walking along the beach. The sun is out, ocean waves are breaking on the shoreline, and individuals of all ages are taking a pleasant morning stroll. Everyone is minding his or her own business and innocently enjoying ‘private time’ in a public place. But to Dad, […]
On one of our Sunday visits, my sister and I noticed there was a growth on Dad’s left temple that seemed to getting bigger. Of course Dad’s pooh-poohed its importance, but to our untrained eyes it looked like another squamous cell tumor (Dad had already had several of these removed). I told him that we […]
Several years back, my wife Donna and our son Todd were visiting an historical museum. On the tour, a guide spoke passionately about how hard it was was for immigrants to overcome life’s 19th century challenges, such as poverty, hunger and unemployment. At that point, Todd commented to Donna, “I bet Papa would have found […]
When I look at this blog, it’s always a bit surprising to see the picture of Dad wearing a hat. Surprising, since that was not part of his typical wardrobe. I don’t think we have a photo of this anywhere – it’s not a sight you’d think to preserve – but what Dad usually wore […]
I loved the roundup of holiday comments in the previous “Reader” post – some real classics! Not to play “Can you top this,” but….well, it seems that no matter how crazy people think they’ve had it, our experience with Dad usually can top it. For instance, this comment: (Uncle reluctantly uncorking a third .75 liter […]
It was a typical Sunday dinner at Dad’s. Here we were, three of us, sitting at the right hand of the father—Harold—who was in his usual spot at the head of the table. And there he was, with his perfect posture and commanding presence, taking pride in having turned out another meticulously-executed meal. Dad had […]
It started with an email from my older sister, B. She and her husband A. had visited Dad bright and early that Sunday morning. As they pulled up the driveway, Dad was sitting on the backyard sundeck. He greeted their arrival with a big smile and a firm handshake. That’s when B. noticed that his […]
It was the crack of 12 noon, and the doorbell rang. It was a happy moment. My sister Janet, her husband Larry, Jen, Jon and their youngsters were at the front door. Thanksgiving at our house was about to begin! B., A., their daughter, son-in-law and grandson arrived just before Gregory and his family. All were smiling and laughing. […]
Did you think I was kidding – or exaggerating – when I described Dad’s carefully drafted letter of instructions in my previous post? (You’ll recall I mentioned it was written on the back of a recycled business-sized envelope; Dad used some sort of straight edge to draw the lines.) See for yourself.
In the genetic lottery, I got some wins and some losses. Nature blessed me with my maternal grandfather’s thick hair, engineering aptitude and love of music. But you have to take the good with the bad—because I also inherited Grandpa’s irritable bowel syndrome, a lifelong nuisance for us both. Along with that hereditary gift, I […]
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