Six years ago today.

 

“The older I get the more I can see

How much he loved my mother and my brother and me

And he did the best that he could

And I only hope when I have my own family

That everyday I see a little more of my father in me.”

Tonight, it will be six years since my father passed away. If you were to look at his death notice, you would see that tomorrow is the date listed. The reality, my sister was with him as he passed, and I can assure you it was tonight.

I will never forget the night my Dad left us; I was able to speak with him before he passed. It was a one-way conversation, but I know he heard me. This was the second time I have lived through a conversation with my parents when they were about ready to leave. I can say in all honesty I am glad I don’t have to do it again because it totally sucked.

The primary reason I was not in St. Louis that night was due to an impending snowstorm taking place along the 300 miles that separated Chicago from St. Louis. Also on that night I had a date with one of my daughters at the High School Father Daughter Dance. She gave me permission to leave for home, but there was no way I was going to miss this “important date” with her. 

For a couple of reasons: First, this was not just a daughter, this was one of my non-biological daughters; it was so important that she knew I was so proud to be her Dad and be there on this special night with her. Plus, I knew my Dad, and I was pretty darn sure he would have been just fine with my making this decision. He was a great family man, and we all knew how he felt about us.

I miss my Dad as would any child who has lost someone so important to them. But it’s what he instilled in me that I treasure most. He showed me the way to be a human being; it might sound strange to say that, but with the way he treated others and the way he loved his family, it confirms the reason why I used to call him, “Nice Guy Si.” (His name was Simon Rosenbaum.) Why no middle name? He used to say he was so poor the family couldn’t afford one—-that’s my Dad!

Dad, thank you for what you gave me—-a life that I would not change at all. Thanks to you, you showed me what a real man/great Dad was all about.

The photo above was obviously not one I took. This is a photo of my Father with his family. My Dad is the one on the right; as you can see by his smile he was happy to be there—-I am happy he was too or I wouldn’t be here today.

Thanks for stopping by.