Happy Birthday Dad

My father would have been 97 years old last week.  He was only 70 when he died.

I got to thinking about him last night, and realized how much I’d love to have just one more conversation with him.   There’s so many things I’d like to ask him, to learn about his life; things I never thought to ask when I had the chance, questions I’ll now never have answered, things I’ll never know.

I’d love to show him how wonderfully his granddaughters grew up, and introduce him to his great grandchildren.  I regularly see both bit of him and my mother in their faces.

But that’s not something I can do.

I can only wish.

But it makes me want to pass on this word of advice.

Those we love will not always be here, especially parents and grandparents.  I know life is busy, but take the time while you have the chance to do the things I wish I had done more of.  Learn about their history, their lives.  It gives you more of a sense of where you came from.

But most of all, tell them you love them, and do it often, because there will come a day when you can’t.

Happy Birthday Dad.  I love you.