These are stories about my father.
As the mercury has fallen, so has dad’s Mercury Grand Marquis. After getting into his accident a few weeks ago, and as we wait patiently for the State Farm insurance people to call, the car has fallen into a state of disuse and perhaps a slow death cycle. As you may know from other posts, …
A week or so ago, I came home from lunch and dad was a bit excited about the mail. I asked him what it was, and he showed me a package from Venezuela. “Who do you know in Venezuela,” I asked. He looked at the name and thought aloud, “Guntars Gedulis… Guntars Gedulis…” He paused …
On any given night some thirty years ago, Vitauts Grinvalds could be seen in these same stands, or, more likely, standing up along the fence of the Yutan Chieftains’ football field watching the game and smoking his pipe. His sixth child, Alan, was a star on the team and one of dad’s few family engagements …
I am writing this still in the euphoric afterglow of Nebraska’s incredible comeback against Michigan State this Saturday. It was one of the most amazing games that I have ever watched, and I watched it with dad. Usually, two or three random siblings and other relatives or friends will show up for a big game, …
This is going to sound rather awful, but since my dad has been living with me, my siblings and I have all shared our biggest fear: Dad will eventually hurt himself or someone else while driving. The big question is, “When do you take away the keys?” I have had this conversation with many of …
I was sick on Friday, and luckily I was home when dad got yet another flat tire. The first flat tire happened on the way to Lincoln several months ago. He was driving down I-80 when his rear tire shredded. He called me for help, and I, in turn, called my son, Kyle, who lived about …
This is Vitauts about fifty years ago or so. Dapper and dashing with his pipe. He always had that air about him. Today Vitauts turns 88-years old. Eighty-eight! What a terrific number. The crazy 88 from Kill Bill come to mind. And then there are, of course, 88 keys on the piano. For his birthday, …
I will bet that Vitauts always thought of Halloween as a special occasion. After all, it’s the day before his birthday. Yes, the life-long pastor was born on All Saints Day. Coincidence? Maybe. Last night was the first time that I’ve spent Halloween with my father since, well, maybe since forever. When we were little, …
Dad’s memory may be fading as he turns 88 in just a week, but some of his memories come back like lightning flashing. Some flashes are far away, on the horizon, barely noticeable, but some strike furiously and seem to jolt him from the present to the past and back again. The other day, he was …
A friend of mine came over this weekend, and he tried to talk to my father, but he didn’t know how to say his name. There was an awkward exchange where he asked dad, and then me, “What is your name again?” I think dad has gone through this same experience most of his life. …