I've been thinking of Dad all day. He died in September, 2011. This would have been his 95th birthday. I thought of him as I washed my face and noticed the diamond engagement ring he gave to my mother sparkling on my finger. (It's difficult to think of Dad without thinking about Mom, too.) How many times its brilliance reminds me of the example they were of what St. Paul said in today's reading: The entire law is fulfilled in this one thing...Love your neighbor as yourself. Mom and Dad were good at that.
Parents are a child's first experience of the world. Of love. If one is blessed. And I was. I have lots of memories of Dad. I remember crying and being sick when he had to leave for a week when I was young and he traveled a lot for his job. Mom said neighbors commented that they knew Dad was home when they looked in the windows and could see little legs dangling as Dad carried his young children, one by one around the house.
Two things I remember about Dad these days, as I plug away at finishing a book and the website and marketing tasks that ago along with it. The first is his unwavering support and confidence in his kids (and grandkids). Once, Dad and I were working in his basement shop. He was stretching fabric over a wooden board for one of my high school art projects. I wanted to paint a picture of a pregnant Mary and a young Joseph for a contest. We talked as we worked, and I told him my dream: I wanted to write a book someday. Read More