My father was born on 21 November 1926, so if he were still alive, he would be 81 today. My father was a true character and I always told people that if they were to meet him, they would understand me a whole lot more. I am very much my father's daughter, which most of the time is something of which I am proud...but, of course, there a few annoying little traits of his that I reluctantly admit to having.
People who did not know my dad well would probably think that he was gruff and humorless. He did try to act gruff at times, but I think it was to protect his very sensitive nature. He felt things very deeply, which often led to him taking a long time to get over events. For example, it was years before he could talk about the Challenger explosion without choking up; as a NASA engineer and a member of the NASA community, the accident troubled him greatly.
Dad had a great sense of humor and loved to make other people laugh. The story that is famous in our family is the time back in the late '60s/early '70s when he and my mother attended a PTA meeting with their neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Knoblauch. A rather well-endowed woman was addressing audience, her hands clasped in front of her bosom. Dad leaned over to Mr. Knoblauch and whispered, "If her bra breaks, we will all be flogged to death." Mr. Knoblauch laughed so hard that he had to leave the room, unable to regain his composure.
I miss Dad so much. We had so many interesting conversations about so many different subjects; he was well-read, inquisitive and informed. My tendency to form an opinion on just about any subject comes from him and while we did not always agree, he respected my opinion as long as it was educated and based on sound reason. I often hear news stories, particularly those about something the current inept administration has done, and think "I can't wait to hear what Dad thinks about that" before I remember that I can't.
Seventy-nine is old, and that was Dad's age when he died. He was ill and had been for some time, and I believe that he was ready to go. Unfortunately, we were not ready for him to go and I thought we still had many years together before us. My biggest regret is that A got to spend so few years with Dad and my big challenge is to keep Dad's memory alive for A.
Happy birthday, Dad!
2 comments:
(reposted - with fewer errors, I hope)
I told Fred about the time you drove to Toronto with your folks to see one of the shows (and visit me). You mentioned that your dad would read every sign you passed along the way. Sometimes when Fred and I are on the road, one or the other of us will do the same, at which point, we tell each other we're doing a C--- (insert your dad's name). Also we think of him whenever we see a guy with a particular kind of ball cap that you mentioned that he wore. I'm so glad I got to meet him and your mom.
We call those little old men with the ball caps "Cody men", too!
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