I originally wrote this 11 years ago. I don't have Dad anymore, but I do have the memories and the lessons and the humor.

And in case you need this: John Denver and the Muppets, A Christmas Together full video. If you just want "A Christmas Wish" (below), that's this cut. And happy 1979, haircuts and all.

( How Kermit represents Dad in my head at Christmas )

Dad's formal obituary was published in the journal Geothermics today (the October edition). It is probably the best write-up I've gotten to read. I think his boss's talk at the Celebration of Life was more detailed, but this will definitely do.

If you ever wanted to know who my dad was from a professional perspective: ( read behind this cut )

My mother was a "crunchy granola mom" before that term really existed. She had a huge kitchen garden even before I was born, and it only got bigger as the years went on. Her father also gardened for food as well as for flowers, and both adults thought that children should be included at all stages of the garden. So my youngster years were spent in ( Read more... )

I hope to grow old enthusiastically, with style and laughter. I want to still be holding hands, to still be kissing in public, to still be loving unashamedly and fully...

I have had some great role models for this idea, you see.

( photos )

My Dad is - ahem! - was a classic nerd. As a child, he took apart clocks to see what made them tick - literally - and built radios out of spare parts. As a college student at Berkeley, Dad was far more interested in the chemistry lab than in the anti-war/social-based protests going on right outside of the building ( Read more... )

I have too many coats and jackets that I don't wear, particularly now that I'm old enough to value comfort over fashion, and practicality over fuss. I have a jacket that is only good for crisp cold dry days, and I have two other coats that fit that niche and can do wet weather as well. So one little slice of history is headed off to my niece. I ( Read more... )

Yesterday was the official end of my birthday*. Yes, my birthday was back in the summer. However, my in-laws had to postpone the family birthday after a storm kicked out power, and we never got back on schedule ( Read more... )

I am pulling out a line from yesterday's Toast to Grandpa because I want to remember this separately:

Sometimes we forget to be awed by the people who love us, and by the fact that they love us, and by how strongly and elegantly and dazzlingly they love us.

I wrote this back in January of 2007. I never posted it, even when Grandpa died this spring. It's time to stand tall and raise a glass... ( A Toast to Grandpa )

Mom and Dad are talking about getting rid of The Sofa ( Read more... )