My Dad

Yesterday was my dad's birthday. He would have been 75. Luckily he lives in my soul so I was near him all day. I sure would have loved to grill him a ribeye though. He loved a good grilled ribeye. I stared out at my courtyard last night and was stuck by its emptiness. It is filled with plants, flowers, trees, and vines. What was missing was my dad smoking his cigarette staring out at the beautiful summer evening sky. He always stepped out in the courtyard and did that when he visited and I like to think that it is his courtyard. Sometimes I would join him and he would say, "You know mija..." He always started with that when he had a thought. He would then talk about a world issue or a fact from history or something. He was always thinking. I was sad for a moment and then immediately comforted because it was a beautiful summer evening on his birthday and the sky was glorious to look at. He would have loved it and I know he would have been there staring up at the summer sky last night if he were alive. I thought of a few of his hilarious stories throughout the day and it made me laugh too. He could be so hilarious at times. My main comfort is my dad was firm in his belief about where he was going after this life and he was ready for it so he is where he wants to be. I ended the day laughing to myself because I remember something my cousin Patricia said the day of his funeral. I was so devastated that day and she made me laugh hysterically. She said she could just hear my mom in heaven when she saw my father appear. She imagined her saying sarcastically, "Lalo, what are you doing here?? I thought you were going to give me a little more time before you came! I needed more rest." I loved that and I still do. What a fun way to end his special day.