John 3:16 – Be thankful, grateful, patient, charitable, kind, and smile, as it is infectious. God Bless America; protect our president and Military!
It was a day much like today. I was just finishing my night shift job at Acme Markets store 1643 43rd and Locust, Philadelphia. I was laughing with the manager over something said as I was clocking out. My wife was due any day with our first child who was home in our apartment.
She knew like every week in advance my intent to take my dad out for a ride; something I did since we were married. I don’t know who enjoyed our rides out more him or me, but it was a time I cherished as dad was my mentor.
I can remember getting called to the office as the phone was for me. Thar morning still feels like a haze in my mind. I remember my brother Andy saying simply but serious enough in his voice inflection that I knew something was up…”Dads was taken to the hospital just come home.”
Me: “What happened and what hospital.” He said, “Delaware County Memorial” I said, “I am on my way!”
I made it to the hospital in 12 minutes running every light I could. Just as I was coming up the hill towards the hospital, I saw the car loaded with my family leaving. I remember wondering why? However, I followed them to mom and dad’s house on Rosemont Avenue. We shared a twin with the Riccardi’s and as I walked in on the enclosed porch mom met me at the porch saying, “Dan, let Al and Rose and some of the neighbors know. I said, “Know what?” She said through tears, “That your father passed this morning from a massive heart attack.”
It was a jerk reaction that I put my hand through the porch window in that moment frozen in time. We headed back to the hospital as I needed stitches, a reminder that I carry on my left, right-side of my wrist to this day. Like all things in time more faded and worn but still there just the same.
My wife’s water bag broke just around the time we were leaving my father’s wake from the Donohue Funeral Parlor on 8/15/26. Our daughter was born at 3:30am the next day and by the time I did the things all fathers get to gleefully do before getting my settled into a room for some much-needed rest. I remember leaving to head home knowing I was receiving something so precious and losing in just a few short days someone I held in a loving deep respect. Though the distraction of the circle of life was evident and helped us all through this most difficult time.
As I look back today, now 70, our daughter, a granddaughter he would never know turning 50 in a few short days. I carry his memory daily with me feeling how blessed we were but feeling he was taken too soon. Dad was a month shy of his 61st birthday and mom was 55.
Mom would never meet or remarry. They both are now gone and, in the words, shared by them laughingly…”Someday we will all be living together again, not too far from here, with “Two Guys!” I remember when first hearing this saying, “Who are, Two Guys?” “You know Saints Peter and Paul!”
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