Dad, today you start your seventh round of chemo. And while it’s not the super-funnest thing you’ll ever do, I’d like to remind you of a time when you were working on a house so hopeless you [silently] wished to burn it down. That house was my special fixer-upper house, Dad. And I’m so very glad that you didn’t follow through with your initial response of kicking the house into a bricky heap while choking back Ugly Tears (uh, maybe {Read More}
We Put The "Ire" In "Ireland".
March 13, 2013 By 8 Comments
As my Dad gears up for his sixth round of chemo, I’d like to thank him for my heritage. Namely, my fabulous half-Irishitude. Back when I was a little kid, St. Patrick’s Day was a major holiday in our household. (Are you catching on to the fact that everything was a major holiday in our household? We’re a tad celebratory.) My Mom would make stellar corned beef and cabbage (no small feat, being an Armenian and all), we’d sit around the {Read More}
Turns Out, You CAN Go Home Again. (If You Clean It.)
March 4, 2013 By 4 Comments
On Thursday afternoon, I flew home to spend time with my folks for a wicked long weekend. I wanted to poke my Dad until he laughed during his fifth round of chemo (which is a medically and historically proven way to get smacked upside the head) and berate my mother into Feng Shui-ing the heck out of her living areas. So yeah, you could say I was a big ol’ helper. Here are a few things I realized (and reaffirmed) {Read More}
My Dad Is Tough Enough For The Scrambler (With Kids).
February 27, 2013 By 12 Comments
Dad, As you prepare to smack this latest round of chemo directly in the face, I’d like to remind you of a little story: It’s the story of a Dad. With two little girls. (Well, actually four, but at the time of this tale the smallish ones were running around and shoving things like Tic Tacs up their noses. They weren’t doing real things, yet.) And that Dad did things with his little girls that no one really wants to do. Like {Read More}
Happy Anniversary, You Crazy Kids!
February 18, 2013 By 6 Comments
This couple. They met and decided to go have some wild adventures and then he built her a house on Cape Cod.Then they had a kid.(And then they had this kid.) And then two more kids, which everyone agreed was a) not “a little brother” and b) not “a trip to Disney World.” Then came two more houses, at least three business ventures, and a whole menagerie, which [eventually] included five dogs, five cats, two hamsters, and at least thirty fish. {Read More}
Cheer Up, Dave!
February 13, 2013 By 7 Comments
Dad, as I’ve been trying to think of many ways to keep your spirits all bright n’ shiny during your carousel bouts with chemo (and because last night you gave me the “You really don’t need to be posting so many pictures of me” talk over the phone)…let’s compromise. Here are things guaranteed to make you cheerful as you start another round today: A picture that Nora collaged of you: So,
Just Let The Man Read.
January 30, 2013 By 18 Comments
I simply love this picture of my Dad and one of my sisters. It embodies oh-so much about my father and everything we adore about him: His devotion to his family. His sense of humor regarding his ever-present kids. And his tolerance- because Good Lord, it’s like his one day off a month and this is literally the first time he’s even seen a newspaper all week. But no, totally. Go ahead, Rachel
Hey, Dad.
January 17, 2013 By 2 Comments
Pops, as you steamroll through your second day of your second session of chemo, I’d like to invite you to reflect upon the good times. Like that time you found a yellow dinosaur. I mean, clearly you were between gigs for the evening- that is what was happening here, right? (Ziggy Stardust onstage= terrific. Rhinestone cowboy just a’cause in someone’s living room= …well, this is a
