At the mercy of Amtrak I find myself watching the Sunrise just south of Lake Erie. The hard winter winds slowed the “Capital Limited” down between DC and Pittsburgh... picking me up early this morning or should I say later than I expected!
I broke bread, shared stories, hugged hard and left Pittsburgh loved and cared for.... I have a family created on a step.... merged from two failed marriages into one glorious one! It gave me a few more people in this world that love me and as my dad reminded me this weekend.... “Moose, not many people in this world think your special, hold tightly the ones that do!”
I spent several hours this weekend sitting on the edge of my fathers bed shooting the shit.
He is slowly graying and living the end of his stay in a poor quality of life. Something I wouldn’t wish upon anyone.... even ex Hinsdale mother in laws.
Our conversations touched all aspects of our relationship with each other.... our relationship with God.... childhood, both his and mine....parenthood, both his and mine.... divorce, both his and now mine.
And in the end I reassured my father of his greatness. I told him his triumphs far outnumbered his defeats... I told him it’s alright to go to heaven and I told him I loved him!
If I were a betting man I’d bet that I kissed and hugged my father for the last time.... though he is a stubborn Limey Kraut! Like he said, “I might just last longer than this fucking President we have.... I was born when FDR was President... I don’t want to die with this silly son of a bitch in the White House!!!!”
I told my dad where I was in life and he gave me plays to jot down that could help me play life a little better. His advice and knowledge has always been important.... it’s probably a large part of what I am.....
I’m going to spend the rest of my morning watching Ohio and Indiana crawl past my window and formulate where I’m going when I debark the train and walk to the Board of Trade.... late!
I hope I come home a better Father, a better friend and a stronger man.... because I boarded the train a loved son!
