In Honor of Dad

Since yesterday was Father's Day, I decided to post a list about who my dad used to be. About seven years ago, when he was about 50 years old, my dad started to get quiet and not really act like himself. My family thought that perhaps he was going through a mid-life crisis. Boy, could we only have hoped for that: buying a red convertible and picking up a new hobby. But what we got after a couple months was never to be expected.

Dementia, frontal lobe dementia. This disease turns your brain to mush. My dad, who was a rock in our family, started to behave like a child, his personality changed and he began repeating himself and telling strange stories from the past. He stopped knowing right from wrong and had no ambition to do anything. He had to "retire" early after 32 years of teaching -- something he loved. My mom had to quit her job and take care of him full-time, until three months ago, when he finally moved into a nursing home. He hardly talks; he hardly recognizes me. He will only tell you the two rules, "You have to have fun while you are young and once it is dark you don't have to behave." This is my dad now.

But I wanted to remember my dad as he used to be. His name is Jack.

1. Some Jack-isms that he quite often said: "That's the way the pickle squirts." "No, but thank you for asking."
2. When he was little, his smile was the shape of a lemon drop.
3. He broke his nose three times, now it is uniquely shaped.
4. He proposed to my mom after dating her for two months - at a wedding reception.
5. He has the best penmanship.
6. He loved grammar and the English language. (Hence, he was an English teacher for 32 years.)
7. When he laughed, his whole face would light up and laugh. He was a loud laugher and his eyes would twinkle.
8. He was tall and lanky and my friends always told me that they thought he was handsome.
9. He came to every basketball, soccer and volleyball game I ever played. He was always there cheering me on.
10. He was a sport fanatic, playing softball, basketball, golf and more.
11. He always joked that the only instrument he could play was the radio.
12. He used to wake me up singing, "Wake up, little Susie, wake up."
13. He would call me Trishy.
14. He was strict enough for me to respect and yet taught us how to have fun in life, too.
15. He was a hard worker and taught himself how to woodwork and do building projects. My parents' house is furnished in beautiful pieces he made.
16. He was a great hugger, especially after sporting events, he would swing me around while hugging - even when I was 18 years old.
17. He was a devout Christian.
18. He loved his family and was very proud of us.
19. He loved my mom. They had a great relationship.
20. He was a great man who is missed by many.

Happy Father's Day, dad. There is a lot more I could say about him, but I will save more for later.

I love you.