Dear Dad
Dear Dad,
As I begin my first New Year without you, I wanted to keep in touch, if only metaphorically, to share what’s going on in my life. I’m pleased with my progress on several fronts, and, I think you’d be proud.
I always made it a point to visit you at least once or twice a week. Unfortunately, you died last May just after my second back operation. At that time, it was difficult for me to even get out of bed, and I’m sorry I wasn’t able to spend time with you during the last several weeks of your long and successful life.
Our family held a service at Mt. Sinai, where you were buried next to Mom on a beautiful blue-sky white-cloud May morning. On July 14th (that would have been your 105th birthday), Daveen and I hosted a celebration of your life at our home with many of your friends, former students, and family present. I think you would have liked the speeches. You always had a lot to say and loved to talk.
The most important change I’ve made in my life is that I have gone from “couch potato” to “walking machine.” That may be stating it too strongly, but for the past few months I’ve been walking more than three thousand steps every day. For me it is a monumental and long overdue lifestyle change. While dining out recently we were told that dessert would take twenty minutes to prepare, so at my suggestion, Daveen and I took a very enjoyable walk. I added 487 steps to my total for the day. (Yes, Dad, I still like to count things. You and I were always good with numbers.) I also remember that you played racquetball until you were eighty. That’s pretty impressive.
You did very well in the stock market, while my record with stocks has always been dismal. I recently sold the Valero shares you left to me, at close to the highest price of the past year. Without your sage counsel I’ll never know if that was the best financial move.
I want to thank you for your hospitality during the three months in 2018 when my life was in transition and I lived with you at your house. I know you loved having me to yourself, at least for breakfast every day, and you were truly a gentleman in not showing any disappointment when I returned to my own home.
Dad, I appreciate you. I learned so much from you about investment, work, and the importance of aiming for perfection in every task. As you often said when I was a kid practicing the piano, “Every phrase matters. Every note counts. Always pay attention and do your best.”
I know I was the best son to you I could be, and I’m glad you often bragged about me. Your being proud of me was perhaps the best gift a father could ever give his son. I’m proud of you too.
Love,
Alan
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