Alberto E. Lee

I could start these words to dad with a quote from some famous 15th century philosopher to more eloquently convey what Katherine, mom and I want to say. But dad you would immediately know we were up to something if I started using obscure anecdotes when a few properly chosen words would do. You might even look at your watch to let me know that time was a-wasting!

So in honor of you dad, this will be short and to the point, only slightly irreverent and there will be no quotes, no BS, and no ulterior motives…not like when Katherine and I were kids!! Instead, we just wanted to let you know what we are sending along with you here today.

First, and most importantly, you have Pablo, just as we promised, so the two of you can continue your naps together. We are also including your favorite coffee mug because it would still drive you crazy if one of us should use it even now! You would be lost without your reading glasses and besides you had a way of looking both funny and stern when you made your serious face with them. We didn’t forget your chapstick either, the same Chapstick brand you’ve used every day for the past 40 years and, of course, it’s the one in the plain black tube. No fancy stuff here. And you have your favorite Halls menthol cough drops, the ones in the blue bag, since no sane person could like the lemon flavor! We brought extras today to share but we mixed them with a generic brand, because we remembered that money doesn’t grow on trees.

Mom made sure that even now you are holding in your hands your prayer book and that your Angel blanket is still keeping you warm, as it did when you were in the hospital. And we didn’t forget that you never leave the house without looking sharp. You are dressed in a navy suit with a fine looking blue checked tie and sporting one of your patriotic lapel pins…and yes, there’s underwear!

What you won’t find Dad is your cell phone or a connection to Fox News, that would just be ridiculous. And with you today, there are no depressing headlines, no liberal agendas and no more Atlanta Braves losses. And don’t look for your watch either; I inadvertently forgot to give it back to you.

And lastly, you also won’t find our love for you in there…we are keeping that in our hearts along with all our fondest memories of you. We just can’t let those things go. Until we see you again dad….

Your wife and family, Marianne with Susan, David, Andrew and Angelina, with Katherine, Cedar and baby boy Hinton to come!