Dad loved Boudreaux, the restaurant in my neighborhood. It's not for lack of trying to get him to try a different spot.
"Hey Dad! Want to try a different place? Maybe Cab..."
"Let's go to Boudreaux."
Another time:
"Hey Dad, there is this really great place called Crep..."
"Boudreaux."
Oh, ok. Boudreaux it is!
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Monday, November 25, 2013
More than memories
After what happened while Melissa and I were on the phone last night, I thought it would be a good idea if we each shared our stories of feeling that Daddy is still watching over us and the signs that prove us right. I would hate for us to forget those special times.
I'll start with the first sign that I believe was from your dad. From the first day that your dad was hospitalized until after his death, you guys, family, and friends did a great job of staying with me and with him so that although I was walking around in a state of shock, I was being surrounded by support.
After that horrible day in October, I insisted that Ginny and J3 go home and then on Monday that Melissa go back to work. It was my first day alone in the house. I was up in the breakfast area and I started hearing a tap, tap. After it continued for a bit, I started listening and trying to location the sound. I figured out it was somewhere in the family room so I walked down there and looked up at the transom. There was a little bird flitting from window to window tapping on the glass. When I looked up at it, it stopped and sat on the ledge and stared at me. It sat there for what seemed to be a very long time just looking at me.
Of course, I burst into tears and said thank you. I knew that if Joe wanted to get my attention, a bird would be entirely appropriate because I used to give him grief about spoiling the birds by feeding them too late in the spring and too early in the fall.
I then was determined to get the bird feeders filled because I wanted his birds to stay around.
Another bird incident that quickly comes to mind was during Holy Week of the first Easter after his death. I wasn't prepared for part of the service to be outside in the memorial garden. When we were out there, I started crying but was working hard to maintain some composure. Then I heard rustling noises in a nearby tree. I looked up to see a little bird in the tree, far too close for most birds to be to a group of people. I watched him until we went in but again felt very sure it was your dad there to let me know he was watching over me.
Gin, Melissa, and J3 I hope you will share your stories. I plan to share the story of the dimes because that is the one that made me realize that we should write these stories before we forget the details. I'm not sure that I have the timing right on the first bird story but I do know that it was the first day I was home alone after Joe's death.
I'll start with the first sign that I believe was from your dad. From the first day that your dad was hospitalized until after his death, you guys, family, and friends did a great job of staying with me and with him so that although I was walking around in a state of shock, I was being surrounded by support.
After that horrible day in October, I insisted that Ginny and J3 go home and then on Monday that Melissa go back to work. It was my first day alone in the house. I was up in the breakfast area and I started hearing a tap, tap. After it continued for a bit, I started listening and trying to location the sound. I figured out it was somewhere in the family room so I walked down there and looked up at the transom. There was a little bird flitting from window to window tapping on the glass. When I looked up at it, it stopped and sat on the ledge and stared at me. It sat there for what seemed to be a very long time just looking at me.
Of course, I burst into tears and said thank you. I knew that if Joe wanted to get my attention, a bird would be entirely appropriate because I used to give him grief about spoiling the birds by feeding them too late in the spring and too early in the fall.
I then was determined to get the bird feeders filled because I wanted his birds to stay around.
Another bird incident that quickly comes to mind was during Holy Week of the first Easter after his death. I wasn't prepared for part of the service to be outside in the memorial garden. When we were out there, I started crying but was working hard to maintain some composure. Then I heard rustling noises in a nearby tree. I looked up to see a little bird in the tree, far too close for most birds to be to a group of people. I watched him until we went in but again felt very sure it was your dad there to let me know he was watching over me.
Gin, Melissa, and J3 I hope you will share your stories. I plan to share the story of the dimes because that is the one that made me realize that we should write these stories before we forget the details. I'm not sure that I have the timing right on the first bird story but I do know that it was the first day I was home alone after Joe's death.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
In which Dad meets Steve Smith of the Panthers, and Mel freaks out
I can't believe I haven't posted this story yet. It's one of my favorites.
So the panthers did a a big special event before the '09 season to kick off the release of Steve Smith's "'89" clothing line. They randomly chose PSL owners to meet Steve at the Panthers store with the chance to get an autograph. I don't remember how I found out that I was going, but I remember Mom saying that I should go instead of her. I wasn't about to argue.
So Dad and I had lunch at Stool Pidgeon's (same place where he had his retirement party), and headed over to the stadium. We'd been told that Steve would sign one item, and Dad decided that he was getting a Steve Smith jersey for Mom for the autograph. Remember how he used to shop? He marched over to the rack with jerseys, picked up two and said, "Which one, Mel?" I picked the white one with pink lettering (instead of the pink one with white lettering). Then he said, "What do you think, size look ok?" "Sure - she'll want to wear a shirt underneath." The entire picking out of the jersey took approximately 10 seconds. (Dadism: "You and your mother shop. I buy stuff.")
By the time we got to where Steve was, there was no line, so we walked right up to him. He's not super tall in person, but he is THICK. His body fat percentage must be really low. Anyway, Dad said, "Steve, it's great to meet you! We can't wait for the season to start!"
Steve said, "Thanks! Why don't you go to training camp for me?"
Dad laughed, "Oh, no way, Man. I had my share of training campus, two-a-days..."
And then my brain started making that "eeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!" sound and I missed the rest of the conversation to take pictures. It was so cool, though. Steve was just being himself, but he was chatty and super friendly. Dad asked one of the worker ladies to take a picture of the 3 of us together. I wish they weren't so blurry, but I'm happy to have them.
Steve Smith is the coolest Panther ever.
Lv
mel
So the panthers did a a big special event before the '09 season to kick off the release of Steve Smith's "'89" clothing line. They randomly chose PSL owners to meet Steve at the Panthers store with the chance to get an autograph. I don't remember how I found out that I was going, but I remember Mom saying that I should go instead of her. I wasn't about to argue.
So Dad and I had lunch at Stool Pidgeon's (same place where he had his retirement party), and headed over to the stadium. We'd been told that Steve would sign one item, and Dad decided that he was getting a Steve Smith jersey for Mom for the autograph. Remember how he used to shop? He marched over to the rack with jerseys, picked up two and said, "Which one, Mel?" I picked the white one with pink lettering (instead of the pink one with white lettering). Then he said, "What do you think, size look ok?" "Sure - she'll want to wear a shirt underneath." The entire picking out of the jersey took approximately 10 seconds. (Dadism: "You and your mother shop. I buy stuff.")
By the time we got to where Steve was, there was no line, so we walked right up to him. He's not super tall in person, but he is THICK. His body fat percentage must be really low. Anyway, Dad said, "Steve, it's great to meet you! We can't wait for the season to start!"
Steve said, "Thanks! Why don't you go to training camp for me?"
Dad laughed, "Oh, no way, Man. I had my share of training campus, two-a-days..."
And then my brain started making that "eeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!" sound and I missed the rest of the conversation to take pictures. It was so cool, though. Steve was just being himself, but he was chatty and super friendly. Dad asked one of the worker ladies to take a picture of the 3 of us together. I wish they weren't so blurry, but I'm happy to have them.
Steve Smith is the coolest Panther ever.
Lv
mel
Saturday, May 12, 2012
I emailed this story to J3 the other day, but it's so funny that I had to post it.
I'm not sure if I was at home because it was summer, during the year I was at home going to Queens, or after I graduated, but I was around while Dad and J3 had breakfast before work & school. After breakfast, Dad opened up the vitamin cabinet and handed vitamains to J3 before taking some himself. I glanced over and saw Dad taking a bright orange vitamin.
"Dad!" I said, "DAD YOU ARE TAKING WOMEN'S ONE A DAY! YOU ARE TAKING LADY VITAMINS!"
Dad's eyes widened, and he pulled out the bottle. They were lady vitamins.
Both of them started to chuckle.
"Oh, I feel so emotional!" said J3 in a high pitched voice.
"Joey, are you ready for school?" asked Dad, in a similar high pitched voice.
The two laughed and used their Lady Voices all the way out the door.
So funny.
I'm not sure if I was at home because it was summer, during the year I was at home going to Queens, or after I graduated, but I was around while Dad and J3 had breakfast before work & school. After breakfast, Dad opened up the vitamin cabinet and handed vitamains to J3 before taking some himself. I glanced over and saw Dad taking a bright orange vitamin.
"Dad!" I said, "DAD YOU ARE TAKING WOMEN'S ONE A DAY! YOU ARE TAKING LADY VITAMINS!"
Dad's eyes widened, and he pulled out the bottle. They were lady vitamins.
Both of them started to chuckle.
"Oh, I feel so emotional!" said J3 in a high pitched voice.
"Joey, are you ready for school?" asked Dad, in a similar high pitched voice.
The two laughed and used their Lady Voices all the way out the door.
So funny.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Time
to start posting stories again!!!!
It's that time of year when your dad would start plotting/planning the garden. I don't have his green thumb or his ability to keep little Bunny foo foo or Bambi out of the garden. I've decided that he spent so much time up there that the garden smelled like him and they stayed away. Well, either that or he always planted enough for them and us!
It's that time of year when your dad would start plotting/planning the garden. I don't have his green thumb or his ability to keep little Bunny foo foo or Bambi out of the garden. I've decided that he spent so much time up there that the garden smelled like him and they stayed away. Well, either that or he always planted enough for them and us!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Dad's Favorite Things
I think it might be fun to post some of Dad's favorite things. Some are obvious, like the Panthers, but some are not! It'd be nice to have these recorded somewhere.
I'll start, mostly because I heard this song twice the other night on the way home from Mom's. "Walking in Memphis" by Mark Cohen. I usually hear it about once a week, but I heard it two times in a row!
Remember when he and Mom went to Memphis, and we all got phone calls? "Mel! I'm walking in Memphis! I'm ten feet off of Beale!"
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Father's Day related...
It's not really a memory, but I always loved it when my birthday & Father's day were on the same day. It always seemed extra special to share the day with Dad.
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