Heard a great story from my aunt today that was new to me. My grandma, a VERY proper German Catholic, put a lot of thought into gifts. She knew my Dad’s love of Japanese and Chinese art and spotted a lovely antique leather book with color plate illustrations. She gave it to him on Christmas…..
….but she had not looked at it very carefully. He opened it. Soon Mom and Dad were snorting with laughter as everyone opened their presents.
Very proper Catholic grandma had given him an antique Japanese version of the Kama Sutra. There were comments.
I am so deeply sorry for your loss. Your piece is a beautiful eulogy that captures the heartbreaking, complicated, wonderful, awful phase of life where we are sandwiched between taking care of our parents and our children. May his memory be a blessing.
That was beautifully written, and contains so much I recognize of my own parents as they age, and my hopes for how my kids might think of me as I age too.
I’m sorry for your loss.
I am sorry for your loss, and wishing you and everyone who loved him joy and comfort in your memories of your dad
(and the cat on the roof joke is one of the greatest and truest jokes ever)
So sorry for your loss. Your piece hit upon my experiences as well about how we see our parents as they age and we learn more she about their life, always leaving gaps of mystery such as your father's compass.
Sorry for your loss. You touched on one of the recurring themes of my orphanhood: all their memories disappear with them, and a great ignorance settles over the past.
This was a lovely piece, thank you. I just sent this to a dear friend who lost his father in February and he thanked me profusely, said it was beautiful. I'm sorry for your loss.
