Oh, How I Miss My Loved Ones

 Oh, How I Miss My Loved Ones

I loved my father. I respected my father. He was the anchor of the family. I worked with him from 13 to 19 years old. I'm so thankful I got his sense of humor. He knew funny and we laughed a lot together. I'm so thankful I got his smart brain so we could talk to each other on many topics. I'm so thankful I got his moral compass (he never lied and I never lie). Then at 80, he got Parkinson's. Oh, how I miss the man he was.

My sister and I didn't talk for over 40 years. At 50 she got ovarian cancer. I put aside our differences and she did the same. We were 3000 apart but, we talked all the time. I saw her when I could and our times together were great. I lost her at 54. Oh, how I miss the smart, creative, interesting sister she was.

When I moved my mother from Philly to Los Angeles, I really got to know her. She was no longer just a housewife, she was a funny, sweet and loving person. She loved everyone and everyone loved her. I got most of my genes from her. When she went into a nursing home, I always had Tuesdays with Eddie. Oh, how I miss the hugs she gave me.

Then there was My Ellen. I would have never gotten thru my second divorce without her. We had a great 35 years together. She was outgoing and funny. People were attracted to her. I remember a time I picked her up at the airport. When she got off the plane four strangers were hugging her. She died suddenly of a heart attack. Oh, how I miss the good times with My Ellen.

I've lost friends in my life, but two have the biggest impact. Hal Tuens was the wind blowing through my hair. We worked together and we had great times together. He was the silver fox with women in every port. I was his sidekick. He died too young. Oh, how I miss those years with Hal.

By the time I married my love, my friend and my intelligent Joyce, I didn't have any family left (except recently Ethel found me on Facebook). Joyce had a huge family. The head of the family was my then brother-in-law Frank. He was the best brother a guy could have. Everyone loved Frank. His close friends became my friends. He was a uniter always getting everyone together. I only had a very short time with him before he died. Oh, how I miss the little time I had with him.

The reason I'm writing this blog is for you to take a step back and remember your missing loved ones. I hope you have more than a few. Especially think about the ones who have shaped your life. Especially the ones who have changed your life. Especially the ones who have made your life better and happier. Again, I hope you have more than a few.