17 Things I Miss

On the drive to the cemetery today, my mother asked me, “Does it feel like it happened yesterday or like it was a hundred years ago?”

“Both,” I replied. “Sometimes I can remember exact details about that day and other times I have to do the math and think of how long it’s been. I guess it’s nice that it happened in the year 2000 so the math is easier.”

Today is the 17th anniversary of my father’s death. Fittingly it was an overcast morning in Central Ohio but the forecast is for warmer weather and sunny skies this weekend. I make many trips to Resurrection Cemetery throughout the year – today, his birthday if I am in town, Father’s Day (so I can share my annual beer with him) and my parent’s anniversary to name a few. One thing is for sure, regardless of the weather, it’s never a bad day to remember my Dad.

In honor of the last 17 years that have passed since he left us, here are 17 things I miss about him…

1. Answers to questions I asked him
2. Answers to questions I didn’t ask
3. His joy of travel
4. Being a super grandfather to the two grandkids he got to meet; My nephew David (now a freshman at University of Cincinnati) and my daughter Riley.
5. The chance for him to have been a grandfather to the 6 grandchildren he never met. My son Ryan, my nephews Patrick, JT, David, Colin and my late niece Alison.
6. The excitement he got when he would finish a round of golf using the same golf ball. Even though there is only one water hazard on the main course he would play, not losing that ball was to him, as good as shooting in the 70’s.
7. The nights he would fall asleep on the couch while grading student papers
8. His big jug of Ernest & Julio Gallo wine that he enjoyed after a long day in the classroom – which might explain #7?
9. The loyalty and pride he had for his students, his school (The Ohio State University) and his industry (Landscape Architecture).
10. His homemade pizza. Still, to this day, the greatest pizza I have ever had.
11. His Caesar salads, homemade bread and Cinnamon Flops. Not as good as his pizza, but better than anything I know how to make.
12. His curiosity about technology and computers. He was one of the first educators to learn Auto-CAD and it would be neat to see him utilizing the technology of today like 3-D printing and virtual reality.
13.  The passion he had to get his hands dirty in the yard. He loved spring because it meant he could get his beds ready for the new plants and flowers that would be coming.
14. His advice on what were weeds in my garden and what were actually plants.
15. The connection he had to nature and his ability to see the beauty in things others couldn’t.
16. The love and respect he had for his wife. I know he is proud of her for her strength and stamina these last 17 years. (This year would have been their 55th Anniversary)
17. His ability to build relationships, solve problems and have fun. – Hey…maybe that’s where I got that from?

Do me a favor, will ya?

If your parents are still alive, give them a call to say hello. Tell them “thanks” and let ’em know that you love them. If you’re Dad is no longer with us but your Mom is alive (or vice versa), it’s even more important that you follow my advice. And if both of your parents have died, think of them now with a smile to the heavens and know that they are always with you.

If they weren’t, you wouldn’t have anything to miss.