Time is a very interesting thing.  It's about the only thing on earth that never stops.  It just marches on every second of every day.  Today is April 7, and it's a week I always remember.  This week in 1978, my dad passed away at 53 of lung cancer.   I was in the 10th grade, April 9, 1978.  46 years ago...

Times were very different then.  You were diagnosed, you did this, you did that, and then you died. He was very healthy his whole life.  Always in good shape, and as our family still jokes about it, he said he quit smoking during WWII while in the U.S. Army Air Corps, because "cigarettes went up to 23 cents. Damn things got too expensive"   He never smoked after 1945.

This year would have been my dad's 100th birthday, July the 20th.  Same date as the first moon landing in 1969.  He told me then, "they waited till my birthday."  He had a good sense of humor and was very popular as he coached little league for many years and taught many how to pitch.  And more importantly how to play the game the right way. That went for any sport. He was three sport All-State athlete in high school, and was given a full football scholarship to Duke. He was also signed by the Boston Red Sox. Then the War.  But post war, he was a 200+ bowler, and a scratch golfer.

Neighbors liked him and he was very good about my moms passions in theater and the arts, as that was far from his world and comfort zone.  But he went to every play or show she was ever in. And sometimes he and I would go on the spur of the moment to see the second act of her plays, or as he said, "at halftime."  No matter what your passions were in life, he supported you.

Many people have asked how he died so young.  I feel it's because of his time in occupied Japan after WWII.   The atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  He was in Japan for about 18 months post war, and we have a bunch of pictures.  I feel he was exposed to much radiation, and who knows what else as were many others I'm sure, and their story is no less powerful than his. My dad had three brothers that were also in WWII. They all lived well into their 80's and 90's, and his mom and dad too. They were in Europe during the war.

Many have asked how I did with him passing so young. Truth is, it's been so long, I can't imagine my life with him. He never saw me drive, have a girlfriend, and he never heard me on the radio in this world. That stuff at one time years ago used to bother me, but not at all now.  I am sorry he never got to meet Windy, as he would love her very much.  And he would like to see how I love her. I wish he would have known my great friends I golf with and see regular.   He would love all those guys.

On this week every year I am never sad about this.  I am very happy actually and grateful I had a good dad that left an imprint on me.  I am also thankful he left such an imprint on the city he lived and its people.  And I am proud he served his country as part of his generation. He only lived till 53 but he did a lot of living in those years, we should all be so lucky.

He did what was asked of him his whole life and that is a great example for anyone.  But in the end I am only sad for him, not me.  For him there was so much more to do and see.

Thanks for reading......