More Thoughts on My Dad

Bapa and Little Jack

My Parents at my Sister's Wedding Clearly Distraught about Giving Away Their Baby Girl

My Dad always knew how to tell a story. I've spent the last two weeks trying to collect as many stories as I could. I plan on telling some on my blog every now and then. Some are better than others and some are ones that family and friends will smile and remember how perfectly my Dad told it. 

It's hard for a lot of people to talk about him now as everyone is still in shock and the feeling is so raw. I remember that he rarely ever spoke about his own Father (who died in the 60's) and after my Nana died, he wouldn't talk about her that much either. The pain was too much. There were little things that he spoke of here and there and I held onto them. I want others to talk about my Dad, too. I know that life is supposed to be for the living but I don't want to let him go. I want to keep his memory alive and that includes all of the wonderful stories that he told, his sense of humor, his love for his family and friends and how much he gave of himself to those around him.

Dad told me that his own Father drove a taxi. He would call everyone, "Joe." He greeted them like they were buddies or old pals. My Dad was like that, too. Everyone was either "My buddy" or "Uncle". Dad's friends were always "Uncle John", "Uncle Warren", "Uncle Tom" to us. He always spoke highly of his friends. He loved them and they loved him. 

One of my most favorite stories that I'd ask Dad to tell me again and again was the story of what happened one night long ago. It was a story that only Dad could tell best and it would make everyone roar with laughter. One night Dad got a call from a friend who was working as a security officer at the New England Aquarium. The security guard said, "Get your ass over here right away. There's someone walking around here and he's laughing like a maniac." So Dad and a few of his buddies (who probably had a few) high tailed it to the Aquarium where they found his buddy scared shitless. His buddy described how he heard this loud clumping that sounded like several people walking around. He also said that the people had a pretty weird laugh. Well, the guys all went from room to room searching for the source of the unusual sounds. (Dad could do the noises PERFECTLY.) When they first heard the sounds, Dad said that the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. Well, the noise starts getting louder and they're coming closer and closer to it. They turn the corner and discover that the penguins had gotten loose! The penguins were splashing around and playing in the aquarium, totally unaware of the ruckus that they had caused. Dad and his buddies had a GREAT laugh over it and relentlessly teased each other about it. I loved how Dad told that story clomping his hands on the dashboard of the car and laughing this funky sound. I wish I had thought to videotape him telling it. (If for some reason any of his buddies read this and I'm telling it wrong, please let me know but keep in mind what I said, no one could tell it better than my Dad! I'm cracking up now at the thought of it.)