My dad would have been 87 today.
He’s been gone for almost a decade now. There are still days when I think of things that I’d like to tell him, mostly little things like finding a wheat cent in change or going over whatever the Eagles did in their most recent game. We didn’t have any big things left unsaid, after all.
The ghosts accumulate as you get older.
My grandmother – my dad’s mother – died forty years ago exactly, a hell of a birthday present for my dad when you think of it. My other grandparents both died in 2000. My mom died a bit over four years ago. Julia’s been gone for over a decade. Uncle Ed. Mr. and Mrs. Watts. A small but growing list of UCF friends. Various colleagues. Some old friends. Some new. So many people. Time and demographics only flow in one direction, and all we can do is be there for the time we have with those we care about.
You think about these things more with each passing birthday.
And each year there are new people to hold in your life as well. Family. Friends. Even just passersby who take a small moment to share some humanity. It’s a cycle.
It’s been a while now and for as long as there are people who remember he will be with us still. I do my best.
Happy birthday, Dad.
He’s been gone for almost a decade now. There are still days when I think of things that I’d like to tell him, mostly little things like finding a wheat cent in change or going over whatever the Eagles did in their most recent game. We didn’t have any big things left unsaid, after all.
The ghosts accumulate as you get older.
My grandmother – my dad’s mother – died forty years ago exactly, a hell of a birthday present for my dad when you think of it. My other grandparents both died in 2000. My mom died a bit over four years ago. Julia’s been gone for over a decade. Uncle Ed. Mr. and Mrs. Watts. A small but growing list of UCF friends. Various colleagues. Some old friends. Some new. So many people. Time and demographics only flow in one direction, and all we can do is be there for the time we have with those we care about.
You think about these things more with each passing birthday.
And each year there are new people to hold in your life as well. Family. Friends. Even just passersby who take a small moment to share some humanity. It’s a cycle.
It’s been a while now and for as long as there are people who remember he will be with us still. I do my best.
Happy birthday, Dad.
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