90th Birthday

My dad would have been 90 today.  I would have gotten up early, picked him up and we would have gone to IHOP, one of his favorite places to eat.  Then, we would have gone to the Casino in Yonkers and I would have watched as he happily put his pennies into the slot machine, talking and rubbing it to get a win and walking around looking for the lucky machine.  We probably would have then gone to the butcher where he got his meatballs and told everyone he met it was his birthday. The pretty cashier would have given him a container of soup or a kugel as a gift.  She loved him because he reminded her of her grandfather.  I chuckled because he thought she was hot for him.  I imagine she and the others who work there must know he is gone since he hasn't been around in so long.

 Dad celebrating birthday in IHOP 2011.  Boy was he surprised and happy when everyone sang to him.

Dad today

Reminder of Dad

I watched a physical therapist help an elderly man walk today.  She held the back of his pants and gave him instructions to guide him with his walker.  An aide walked close behind with his wheel chair so he would be able to sit any time he needed to.

My eyes filled with tears.  We did the same thing with my dad.

Jury Duty

My dad loved jury duty.  He loved being on cases, being the foreman, being the one in charge.

I did not inherit his love of jury duty.

Mom In The Kitchen

When we emptied my dad's apartment I brought home certain consumable items both he and my mom had purchased.   I felt like my mom was standing next to me every time I used her cooking spray.

The can is empty and in the trash.

The Apartment

It's been sold.  New people moved in 5/20.

I am going to write them and wish them luck and happiness.

Orphan

Seven Mother's Days without my mom.  This is the first one without my dad.

I'm old, but I am still an orphan.

Shampoo

I wash my hair with shampoo that my mom once used.  It is not a brand I like, but it was hers.

The bottle is almost empty.