Saturday, September 15, 2012

Happy Birthday, Mom!









Happy
Birthday
Mom!













I think
you're
with Dad
again...























where
you
belong.













It's been
3 months now
since
we lost
you...






and
so quickly
fade
the
memories...







of those
long
weeks
in
the
hospital.







And
I remember
you
more







at
Zionsville
Meadows....

at
Talliho Drive






at
New
Glarus...







and
the
Farm...


at
Lake
Santee...







and,
most of all...








at
601
Hosier
Drive.






Funny
how
you and Dad
had birthdays
so
close.






And yet,
knowing you
these
55
years

It
just
seems
right...






for
you
and
Dad....








to
be
together



always.






Happy Birthday, Mom.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Happy Birthday, Dad!










September 11...


Happy
birthday,
Dad!









You
certainly
chose
an
auspicious
birthday.

I remember your story
of 2001
when you
were
getting your birthday hair cut
in North Carolina.

You saw everyone
glued to the tv
watching
the airplanes crashing
into the World Trade Centers
over and over.

You thought
it was just
some
dumb
new
Hollywood movie.

You didn't discover
the enormity
of what had happened
on your birthday
until you got home
and
Mother told you.





I
miss
you,
Dad.






It's been two years now
since that day
I biked
Century Number 5
and stopped by to see you
and said good-bye.







I biked across America
that summer
with your
glasses
on my handlebars.





I think of you
every day
when I look in
the
microscope...

when
I
do an
autopsy...













This summer
now that
Mom has died
and I
have a concussion
to recover from...








I spend days
quietly
emptying
your
old storage shed.









finding
treasures...







Your
16 year-old
baseball
predictions...








and your
young tally
of
your fortune....








Pictures
from 1948
after
the
war...



and
love
letters from
a young
Mom.

I read
she is shocked
you could bike
65 miles
as you biked
around
Europe.









I never
knew
you
biked.








I find
the sales receipt
from the Buick
you bought
for $60...








and
memories
of your
first Mercedes.

Your
old
jacket,
gloves
still
in the
pockets.








I
find
old
birthday cards
from me...











and
Mom...







Your
old tennis
racket...








Those
were
the
days...












So much of
who
I am
today....


pathologist








adventurer












dog-lover











competitor






it all
came from
you.

Sometimes
I still hear your voice.
Your wry sense of humor.
Your chuckle.

Sometimes
I still
smell your cigar.










I miss you,
Dad.

Happy Birthday,
September 11.






Saturday, September 1, 2012

Checking out Apartments








I'm so
proud
of
my
son....






taking
a
gap
year
after
high school...










to
work
for
Habitat....








on
the
Mississippi
Gulf
Coast.







We
start
his year
with a visit
to the
Habitat
office....







waiting
to
meet his
future
world....






Volunteer
Director
Austin
has a
friendly
face....


and
lots
of
advice...







We
check out
the
upside-down names
of his
fellow
Habitatters...










and
then
we
head out....






to
find
his
future
Habitat.







This
place
looks
nice...






Nicer
I think
than
Sister Nicky's
place
in
Tampa.








Nice
clubhouse...


















Friendly
staff....









and
furniture
in
the pool

(thanks,
I think,
to
Issac)





Let's
check
out
the
apartment.





"Is
it
furnished?!"
asks
TJ.








No.

That's
just
for
show.








Check
out
the
TWO
bathrooms....






Washing
machine?

No.


WiFi?

No.









But,
TJ,
it's
gated.

That's
important
down
here!












"Let's
keep
looking"
he
says.










Down
by
the
fort...















This
place
looks
good...









Check
out
the
floor
plan....
















Check
out
the
playground...









Lots
of
kids...


















Friendly
neighbors...










But
TJ says


"Let's
keep
looking"









We
drive
back
across
49....






to
check out
the
neighborhoods
closer to
Habitat...






There's
a
house
he
could rent...

but
we can't
see
the
inside.






Everyone's
out
cleaning up
from
Hurricane
Isaac.








Why
do they
number
their
windows?








TJ
spots
a
sign...







People
live
up.

Cars
live
down.














Let's
check
it
out...










Beautiful
door...









Nice
kitchen...















Gotta
have
the
fans...









Close
view
of
the
neighbors.









OK.

Seen
enough.

















There's
another
place...







gettin'
tired.


This place
can't
move him in
for 3 weeks.

sigh.










Back
in
Beluga...









We
see
flooding
all
around...








Crashed
down
equipment...









a
caved
in
Shell
roof...







a
scary
place
to
leave
my son.


OK.







One
more
apartment
to
check...








Nice
lobby
again...








But
this one
has
a
fitness
room...










and
a
ping-pong
table!







The
business
center
has
free
internet...











Let's
check
out
the
rooms...







Cool
tile
floors.

Screened
balconies
keep
out
the
Skeeters.






Kitchen
with
a
microwave.

Washer
and
Dryer
included!









Nice
fans...











Nice
rooms.
















But
can he
afford
it?








He'll
need
to
get
a
roommate.











I'm
beat!


.
.
.








This
apartment
shopping
is
hard
work...















So
we
go for a
nice dinner
out...







scope
out
the
downtown...
















then
return
to
our
cozy
hotel...







for
some
much needed
rest...


and
for me
at
least...









dreams
of
home.