Hey, Dad. I was going to write to you a few days ago to finish the Twelve Days of Christmas series on my blog, but after reading my wife’s wonderful letter to you I originally decided that was a fitting end. A few days later, I decided that I needed to write to you. There […]
Twelve Days of Christmas finale: Thank you for a lifetime of memories, Dad Read More »
Note: I wrote this, but did not publish it, on Christmas evening in 2018, less than a week after Dad was diagnosed with terminal bone cancer. Dad passed away on Aug. 5, 2019, at age 74. Barring a miracle, today was my father’s last Christmas. I’d hoped it would be a joyous occasion, but most
Twelve Days of Christmas, Part 11: Dad’s last Christmas Read More »
Not long ago, I wrote about the time I realized my parents weren’t going to live forever. I consider that moment, at age 9, one of the defining moments of my childhood. There are plenty of other moments like that as we’re growing up. Your first crush. Your first kiss. The first time you got
Twelve Days of Christmas, Part 10: The magic of believing in Santa Read More »
Yesterday I wrote that in 43 years, I’d only been away from home on Christmas four times. It was just a given that the family spent time together on that holiday. Even after they divorced, Mom and Dad set aside their differences on the big day, spending that time together for my brother and I.
Twelve Days of Christmas, Part IX: Home, and family, is where the heart is Read More »
In 43 years, I was with my dad for all but four Christmases. That might not sound impressive to those who spend every Christmas with their families, but it is considering how many years I worked in newspapers and lived hundreds of miles from home. The first time I wasn’t home for the big day
Twelve Days of Christmas, Part VIII: There’s nothing like kids at Christmas Read More »
The first time my father ran away from home, he was 6 years old. He’d had enough of “not being allowed to do anything” and was set on seeing the world. Picture the iconic image of a boy leaving home with a bindle over his shoulder. That was the old man as a child walking
Twelve Days of Christmas, Part VII: About Dad’s best friend Danny Read More »
Note: This blog was written on Dec. 22, 2018, two days after Dad told us his doctor said cancer had returned and was terminal. Given six months from onset (probably October) to live, the old man lasted more than nine. He passed away on Aug. 5, 2019, at age 74. It’s been two days since
Twelve Days of Christmas, Part VI: The day Dad told us he had six months to live Read More »
Tis the season … for presents. Let’s be honest, we all love them, even if they aren’t the true meaning of Christmas. In Part V, I’m writing about my 10 favorite Christmas gifts: No. 1 (1988): Our first Nintendo I’ve written about this in a previous blog. The NES was THE gift of 1988. If
Twelve Days of Christmas, Part V: My top 10 Christmas gifts Read More »
About three weeks before Christmas, our tradition, like that of millions of others, is to decorate the family tree. The only twist on that tradition is my oldest stepson and I do the decorating as my wife takes dozens of terrible photos of me dressed in shorts and an old hoodie. The other tree tradition
Twelve Days of Christmas, Part IV: Lifelong ornaments and Mom Read More »
Imagine walking into your house two days before Christmas to find a burglar in your home, looting the presents and valuable items you’ve purchased or painstakingly collected through the years. Now imagine that the burglar is your son, and he’s holding a gun. It’s the last thing you’ll remember in this life. What could possible
Twelve Days of Christmas, Part III: About the day Principal Hough was murdered Read More »
