My dad, Myron W. "Bill" Goldman, passed away two years ago today.
I can't believe that much time has gone by already.
I still catch myself thinking that I have to pick up the phone to call dad to tell him something, or that he's doing something in his condo near Shaker Square. But then again, I still catch myself having similar thoughts about my mom. She passed away in 1991.
When my grandmother passed away in 1987, dad said he felt like an orphan. I thought that sounded strange at the time. Actually, I didn't identify with that until recently. Now I'm starting to feel that way sometimes.
That "circle of life" stuff doesn't apply to everyone-- I don't have any children of my own-- but I do feel that in some ways, my role in the human race has shifted a bit. I used to depend on my parents for everything when I was a lot younger. I don't have anyone depending on me in quite the same way, but now, as someone who has passed the median age (not sure what that is or when I passed it, but I know I have), there are many people who depend on people of my age group to lead the way in certain aspects, I guess.
Dad passed away at 4:15 a.m., March 14, 2009, peacefully in a hospice at Montefiore. He had lived the prior 60+ years in the Cleveland area after being born and raised in Auburn, NY, getting his degree from Cornell University and serving in the Navy in the Pacific in WWII.
My sisters and I have tons of fond memories, from the entire span of time we shared. And I'm very glad that he got to know all 3 of his granddaughters. (My mom passed away before the oldest one was born.)
I'm thinking of you today, dad. I do every day.
What a nice tribute to your dad! I especially relate to the part of your post where you say you sometimes think of picking up the phone to ask or tell your dad something or other. I still do that myself...and my dad passed away in 1999.
ReplyDeleteSteve, this is so nice. I can't believe it's been 2 years already!
ReplyDeleteAnd you look so much like your dad - I never really realized that before.
Thanks to both of you.
ReplyDeleteHeather, do I really look like him? I don't see it, but it is most difficult when we are looking at ourselves.
I could see how my dad looked like his mom.