Dad

A year ago, my dad fell and fractured his hip. He was taken to the local hospital, moved to a larger hospital due to breathing troubles and ultimately moved down to the ICU at HCMC in Minneapolis. The trauma of fracturing his hip had exacerbated his emphysema and made it almost impossible for him to breathe on his own. Over the course of three long weeks, he was almost constantly attached to an oxygen mask, bi-pap machine or full on respirator. Eventually, his condition worsened and in accordance with his wishes, he was removed from life-saving care. My brothers and sister and I got to say good-bye to him and were with him when he passed.

I miss him a lot. There is honestly not a day that goes by where I don't think about him. And the oddest things will trigger a memory.

Here's a partial list of things that call him to mind immediately, and may he rest in peace.

Washing dishes
Macaroni and cheese
Old Milwaukee
John Wayne
The Weather Channel
Reader's Digest
Ice Cream
Baseball
Gardens
The library
Michael Bolton
Action movies
Wood stoves
Country air
Summer
Milk
Balanced breakfasts
Potatoes
Bird feeders