There was a pay phone on Maxwell Street just west of the Polish sausage stand. Every once in awhile I’d drunk dial my dad and ask him if he wanted a couple polish sausages.
This is before cell phones, before caller ID. If I called my dad from a police station he would have hung up. Since there was grilled onions involved he wouldn’t be pissed.
Think about it?
Your son is tanked…. It’s 2:51 in the morning….. your son is calling from a pay phone in a shady neighborhood.
Instead of asking me if I’m alright to drive on the Eisenhower he orders two sandwiches.
There was also a pay phone at Gossage Grill and one at Huentitan Tacqueria on North Avenue near Pulaski.
By the time I’d get back to 220 S. Lombard my dad was dressed and downstairs with a pot of coffee brewing. I enjoyed those early mornings bringing my dad a Polish or a cheeseburger or a couple tacos.
We’d shoot the shit for about an hour before I’d pass out on the couch. Waking up a couple hours later tucked in with a pillow and blanket.
I talked with him early this morning. He wakes me up early these days. It’s only fair, paybacks are a bitch.
Unfortunately the Oldman isn’t on his way with a late night sandwich.
This morning he reminded me that he was in heaven with my mom.
“No shit dad! I pray to you guys everyday…. What’s your point?”
My parents divorced when they were in their early forties and battled for the next ten years. They hated each other.
Now they are both in heaven and my dad made a point to tell me this on an early Friday morning.
There is a 99.9% chance that I will live in eternal rest with my ex wife. Thirty years from now a Shepkid will be praying to the two of us.
I haven’t thought about this until today when my dad called and woke me up.
Not just my ex wife will be in heaven. There is also a good chance black people, yellow people, brown people, pink people, Republicans, Democrats, Lutherans, Jews, Catholics and Packer fans will be in heaven as well.
Assclowns that don’t use a turn signal…. They’ll be there.
A friendly reminder from Don Shepley that life together is short. Eternal peace, well that lasts forever.
I call my dad late night to tell him a double cheeseburger with some hash browns are on the way. He calls me with a prophecy from heaven.
I appreciate the call, but I’d much prefer a Polish and waking up tucked in on the couch in the family room.
Every night this week I averaged less than four hours of sleep. Who needs an alarm when your parents wake you up from heaven?
Alright, it’s Friday. It is fourteen degrees outside. Betty the Green Blazer is outside in the cold waiting to take me to work.
We have championship games this weekend, later sunsets and crockpots to fill. I want the Bengals and the 49ers to win.
Last weekend of January 2023. That’s it…. Wont ever happen again. Make it a good one.
