Dad

I was walking through South Station last week, and I stopped to enjoy the sounds of a barbershop quartet.  I could only stay a minute, but that sound instantly made me think of my dad.  My dad has been gone for many years now, but there are certain things that always make me think of him.  I don't hear barbershop very often, but it's certainly something that brings him to mind.  He sang bass in a quartet for many years.  When I got home that night, I went through my photo albums to see if I had any pictures of him singing.  I was psyched to discover that I did have one - that's him above, second from the right.  I can even tell you the song they're singing in this photo - it's called "Hang on the Bell, Nelly".  One of my faves and probably the one I remember most clearly.  

I thought about my dad a lot that day.  I miss him.  He never got to meet my husband or my boys.  He would've loved them, and I think he would've gotten a kick out of seeing me as a mom.  

In honor of Father's Day, here are a couple other things that remind me of my dad...

Sunsets on Lake Ontario, where I spent most summers as a kid.  Here's a classic gorgeous lake sunset.

Buffalo Bills football.  When I was in college, I started talking on the phone with my dad most Sundays.  All Sundays in the Fall I'd hear the Bills game in the background.  

*Image from Sports Illustrated

This isn't associated with a particular memory - it's just one of my favorites...

Happy Father's Day!