Monthly Archive: June 2025

I recently injured my shoulder. You know the drill….no idea how I did it; it hurts when I do this. (I know…..then don’t do that.)

So, I went to an orthopedist to start the routine of X-ray, cortisone, physical therapy, etc. As the nurse is taking my input…and let me say this nurse resembled a young Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson if someone let a little air out of him — just to give you a visual.

Anyway, while The Rock is typing away at the keyboard, he asks, “Have you taken any Tylenol or ibuprofen, or anything for the pain?” I say, no. So, he says, “Old people really don’t like to take medication.”

I almost said, “I know, right?” But then I realized he’s talking about me!

I thought about giving him a stern talking to, but then I thought, well now, might that not confirm…..  Never mind.

Anyway, I decided to let it go and just blog about it.

I always feel a little jealous when people my age still have their parents. I hope they realize how lucky they are. Although I lost my father and mother at 65 and 72, I know that I am fortunate to have had them that long.

I remember a girlfriend calling me when we were in ninth grade to tell me her father died. I can still see my stunned self standing in our kitchen clutching the phone to my ear. And I still regret that in my state of shock, I literally had no words.

Anderson Cooper, who lost his father when he was ten, has a podcast called All There Is about the people we lose, the people left behind, and how we live on – with loss and with love. Cooper says, “Grief can feel so lonely but talking about it, and listening to others share their grief experiences helps.” In one episode Cooper speaks with Stephen Colbert who also lost his dad at ten years old. To hear them discuss their feelings about this devastating loss in such a vulnerable way was palpable.

The episode taught me that quite often it’s better to talk about the deceased rather than stay silent for fear of reminding the person of what they’ve lost. But the greatest takeaway was the reminder of just how important fathers are.

The Irish have a saying, “We never get over our fathers, and we’re not required to.”

Happy Father’s Day.