| I have fond memories growing up in a rural area | | | | and the value of a dollar. As I grew older I |
| of Connecticut. In the summer we'd play baseball | | | | learned to appreciate the things that my father |
| in a grass meadow surrounded by trees. From | | | | did to support his family and provide for our |
| time to time we would drag an old lawn mower | | | | needs. Our relationship changed as time went on. |
| through the woods to the meadow to cut the | | | | My younger years we had a parent child |
| grass and neaten up our very own baseball field. | | | | relationship. When I graduated college and I went |
| We'd play tackle football in the fall and we learned | | | | on my own, my Dad and I were friends. Our |
| quickly not to cut the grass too short because | | | | relationship was built on a mutual respect for each |
| the ground was like a brick. | | | | other as adults. |
| My cousin Rob broke his arm when he got | | | | The time came unexpectedly, never dreamed it |
| tackled hard by Fat John. This kid John was huge | | | | would happen, not to our family, an event that |
| at 12 years old - 5 ft. 10 inches and he weighed | | | | took us on a new journey in life, a progression in |
| close to 200 pounds. In the winter we would go | | | | our relationship, home care. My mother was |
| ice skating at the pond and we would play hockey | | | | diagnosed with Alzheimer's, my father shortly |
| till dark. I remember one time my friend Ricky | | | | after had a triple bypass and the valve replaced in |
| went too close to a thin section of the ice and | | | | the aorta. In 2 years time it was apparent my |
| splash he went into the ice cold water. We got | | | | parents could not take care of themselves. The |
| him out but the mile or so walk home was no | | | | inevitable happened, they moved in with my wife |
| picnic for our friend. Even with wearing three | | | | and me. My daughter had moved out a year prior |
| coats, mine and his two brothers, he was still | | | | having graduated college so my parents took |
| shivering. | | | | over her room. |
| My father was self employed, he owned a meat | | | | It was 1 and 1/2 years from the time my |
| market. His store was open Monday thru | | | | parents moved in that my mother had a massive |
| Saturday. Pop would be home at 6 pm every | | | | stroke. She died before the paramedics arrived. |
| night. On Wednesdays my brother and I would be | | | | Some people told me it was a blessing because of |
| anxiously waiting for him to get home because | | | | her Alzheimer's etc.... I don't know about that. I do |
| every Wednesday was family night out for dinner. | | | | know I miss her. |
| We had 4 or 5 places to choose from so we | | | | My father turned 90 years old recently and he's |
| never went to the same place twice in a row. | | | | as upbeat and positive thinking as he's always |
| Those were really fun days. Every Sunday was | | | | been. He loves to laugh and has a great sense of |
| church in the morning and in the afternoon my | | | | humor. Did I mention my father is a WWII |
| aunts, uncles and cousins would come over for | | | | veteran. Father's Day will soon be here and I've |
| dinner. The women would cook, the men would | | | | been searching for something special to get him. I |
| sit in the den talking politics or recent news. All the | | | | found this site called They have military rings, |
| kids were out in the backyard where we'd play | | | | military watches, military clocks and all kinds of |
| cowboys and Indians or we'd play war. Whatever | | | | men's jewelry. They have a Gifts4Her |
| the game, it involved running after one another | | | | Department too if you need something for your |
| hoot-in and holler-in. | | | | sweetheart. Most of their stuff ships free. Check |
| When I got older I worked in my father's store | | | | it out! Quality products at reasonable prices. |
| where he taught me the meaning of responsibility | | | | |