Thursday, August 26, 2010
… since this was taken in my paternal granny’s garden in Ashtead. That was my first birthday. Monday was my first birthday without Dad — that is, without a card and a phone call at least. He never forgot. It’s a big week. In about 24 hours, I’ll be out of the house. More soon.
… to go until I am out of this house for good. And I will be away for at least two of those days, so lots to do. Material status report: two lovely men came and emptied the rest of the attic and the garage. You wouldn’t believe how much stuff there was, but they [...]
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I wish. I was there last week. Now I’m either packing or worrying or getting a bit shouty on the phone. Wish me luck; see you soon.
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Out for supper, we raised a glass of a very nice Primitivo to Dad. A moment later, I was lost in thought. First I was thinking how I wished I was more like Dad, and then I thought if I was more like Dad in the way I wanted to be, I wouldn’t have had [...]
One Art By Elizabeth Bishop The art of losing isn’t hard to master; so many things seem filled with the intent to be lost that their loss is no disaster. Lose something every day. Accept the fluster of lost door keys, the hour badly spent. The art of losing isn’t hard to master. Then practice [...]
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In the summer of 1989, Dad and I went on a two week holiday to Turkey. I was 11, he was 54. We shared a small, basic room in a rather faded hotel. There were frequent power cuts in the town, including one on the night of our arrival. Possibly as a result of being [...]
I just think it’s important to say that, lest anyone imagine that life after bereavement is a series of jolly japes interspersed with misty-eyed, rose-tinted moments. When I sit down to write this blog, seeing the lighter side of grief and loss tends to come easily. That’s partly because I think of you, the reader, [...]
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As I was having crucial and excruciating eyebrow topiary the other day, I realized that I missed The Chronicles. I put them on hiatus six months ago to focus on The Dead Dad Diaries. But it turns out hair keeps growing during times of grief. It is still necessary to wear clothes most of the [...]
Dear Dad Happy Birthday. You would have been 75 today. I was going to write something for Sunday, but you hated Father’s Day, thought it was commercial nonsense, though you were gracious about any cards, presents or phone calls. You were always gracious, actually, except when you were impatient because I was speaking slowly or [...]
