Things on His Birthday

Today is my dad’s birthday.  He would have been 87 today.  It’s hard to believe that he died almost 10 years ago, and that he’s been gone the whole time I’ve been living in San Diego (since 2001).  That got me thinking about him and though I don't usually do the "Things on Tuesday" group, I ended up considering what he would have loved and loathed if he’d had a chance to visit us here this week for his birthday.

Things he’d loathe:
— The crowded traffic.  Though he might like the tendency to use freeways over roads with streetlights, which is more common in NJ where we lived.  He could swear up a storm about the so-and-so traffic lights.
— Streets with Spanish-derived names. "Caminito what?  What the hell’s a Via del la Valle?"
— Starbucks coffee culture.  “We’re paying what for a cup of coffee??  Let’s just go to Dunkin Donuts”
— That there are no Dunkin Donuts in San Diego.  See above.
— People walking around with Bluetooth ear-pieces.  I have to say, this acorn hasn’t fallen far from the tree there.

Things he’d love:
— Watching a baseball game on a high-definition tv.  Though to be honest, he could also swear up a storm at the so-and-so Phillies…
– Watching the hummingbirds dive bomb our feeder (and each other) while relaxing on our patio.  He always enjoyed sitting and relaxing with his family.
– That there are Law & Order episodes on around the clock in all different varieties.  My folks loved themselves those police/court procedurals.
– Evening at Powerhouse Park in Del Mar, hanging out and watching the sun set into the Pacific. That was one of my mom's favorite things to do when she was here, and I think he'd have loved it, too.
— Seeing that I’ve reached a point in my adulthood where I am happy and healthy (if not quite wise-enough).
— Getting to know The Beloved – which is the thing he'd love most.  She and I didn’t know one another when he died.  He would have loved her, too!

Happy Birthday, Pop!  I miss you all the time.

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