Dad laughs over a birthday book in the early 1980s.
Today is my father’s birthday. He would have been 68.
I’m not sure how to mark the day—celebrate his life, mourn his passing? I certainly am thinking of him lots but it hurts. Not as much as it did before, but it is still a painful loss.
I’m remembering birthdays past—badly decorated cakes (our imaginations were always more vivid than our frosting execution), Clark bars, joke gifts, golf miscellany and whatever Jenn & I had scrounged up or made. Dad had a whole shelf in his closet of gifts he cherished (I assume) but never used. I suspect a lot of fathers do.
Posted by kuri at September 06, 2005 02:12 PMI’m thinking of him alot, too. He did cherish those gifts and the laughter.
M
Posted by: Fran on September 6, 2005 06:18 PMI commemorated the day by searching for cherry vanilla ice cream, but settling for a doughnut (reminded me of Sundays in Oakland). I also called a friend to try to repair a rift I caused in our relationship—I figure one big loss is enough for a while.
Posted by: Kristen on September 6, 2005 11:11 PMDad had a great smile.
Posted by: Jennifer on September 7, 2005 12:07 AMGreat to hear you chose the celebration and moving forward option.
Posted by: T on September 7, 2005 12:59 AMNot the easiest of days to deal with baby I know.
Much love.
Posted by: MJ on September 7, 2005 09:07 PMSorry im late, I havent even looked at the wider world on the Web for a few days….
Im not sure its appropriate, but do you remember, way back at the beginning of the year when we talked about grief being like water, how you can either freeze it and hold it and carry it around like an unchanging rock, or you can melt it and let it flow and leave you like a river… and then of course there is a multitude of options along that spectrum…
The day has passed but there is still much love for you all around.
Posted by: j-ster on September 9, 2005 10:47 AM