Papa

“Heya Josh, how you doing?” For as long as I can remember that’s how he always answered the phone when I called. Our conversations ranged from work to remodeling and construction advice to how the rest of the family was doing, to problems, politics, and everything else in between. He always asked me how I was feeling and how my health was even when he was feeling bad. “Are you eating?” was his favorite question, knowing of my food sensitivity issues. And all of our conversations ended the same too… “Love you. Be careful. Watch your step.”

Watch your step is great advice. Be aware of where you are going, and pay attention to the details. A pebble could cause you to stumble, so be careful. And I think that is how Papa lived his life – loving his family and taking care of us, and being careful to be aware of what was going on. He planned ahead and was an organized guy. To me as a kid, he was invincible. He was this wise, strong practical man with common sense and an amazing work ethic and I thought the world of him. Even when he got a sick a few years again and started having some health problems, I thought, “Papa can beat that.” And he did, time and time again. 

This morning my Papa died. He’s been fighting this one a long time now, and today, in his home with his beloved wife by his side, he slipped peacefully away. I will miss him in ways that I can’t even begin to think or feel right now. This weekend is the funeral and I will be making the drive to NY.