On May 6 my Dad died. On May 14 my sisters and I buried him in the same plot our Mother was buried in on March 23, nine years previous. We all really thought Dad had another year or two to live. He suffered from complications from Diabetes and his heart finally gave way after multiple surgeries and a lengthy hospital stay. Because of Covid and my husband’s renal failure, I had not seen my father in person since fall of 2019. We talked on the phone frequently and had family Zoom calls (even one from his hospital bed); but it’s not the same.

My father was the type of person who had a lot of energy and always kept busy. He loved to garden and spent a lot of his free time doing so. No matter where we lived, he had a garden. This included even when we lived in my maternal grandmother’s two flat (house) on its tiny lot inside inner city Chicago. My Dad was also a fast walker which influenced my stride even though I am 8.5 inches shorter than he was. I spent my childhood years keeping pace with him, while my younger sisters walked slower and stayed behind with Mom.

No one is ever really prepared to lose their parents. Initially we were all in shock. It still seams surreal. In the fall of 2019 I spent time alone with my Dad so we could record his oral history. He was eager to tell his story. I’m grateful that I took the time to do so. I regret however, not finishing the transcript before he died. As someone who has done oral histories professionally, I know how important that step was. Reviewing the transcript with the narrator provides a great opportunity to make corrections, fill in gaps and give family members an opportunity to ask additional questions. But life just got in the way and the transcription completion didn’t happen. I am grateful however that we do have Dad’s voice on tape and a big portion of his life recorded in that oral history. The completed transcript will get done and be shared with my family. It’s something we will always treasure.

On today’s walk, I thought about my Dad. When my husband and I relocated to Northern California, my Dad and his girlfriend Lynn made the 8 hour drive to see our new home. He loved it. He loved the Redwoods and all the agriculture in our area. I still walk at his brisk pace. I do it without even realizing it and as my own children grew, they also learned to keep up. Even though, like Dad, they are both considerably taller than I am. Enjoy your family members while you have them. Enjoy my pics. #iluvtowalk #imissmydad #trinidadcalifornia #humboldt #humboldtcounty

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