My mother and father slept in separate beds. Between them, a stack of detective novels and crossword puzzle books teetered on the night table. In the morning, my father would sit on the edge of his bed, fish around for his slippers and shuffle into the kitchen where my mother was boiling water for the instant Maxwell House, mixing the Minute Maid and tearing apart English muffins. Never cut an English muffin.
I love this portrait of your father. I love the nattering among your readers. We're growing into quite the Susie's community.
May I share that we grew up in S. Africa, and most whites were fearful of "fishermen burglars." Racism, as you can imagine, was rampant. Although my family was moderately more liberal than most, my father slept with a gun by his bedside. Apparently I picked it up once and waved it around, "Is this real?"
I love this snapshot in time, measured by the lingering emotional impact of your father's participation in the life society had laid out for him, like his clothes. Beautifully written and easy to read - I want more!
I got to know my father well in the last 15 years of his life. Before that he was his version of your paleolithic father.
One of the biggest pleasures for me of A Considerable Age is connecting with writers like you Susie and getting to know you through your writing and our online interactions. Thank you.
“She managed his wardrobe like a pitching rotation.” Eloquent, evocaand sharply observed. How that time constricted women is an old story. We hear less about the impact on men like your father.
Very moving Suzie. 😀
I love this portrait of your father. I love the nattering among your readers. We're growing into quite the Susie's community.
May I share that we grew up in S. Africa, and most whites were fearful of "fishermen burglars." Racism, as you can imagine, was rampant. Although my family was moderately more liberal than most, my father slept with a gun by his bedside. Apparently I picked it up once and waved it around, "Is this real?"
I am struck by the narrator watching her father, taking in every detail.
There's a dramatic tension created here that would be great to see resolved in a second or subsequent posts. Good stuff.
“Men are animals in cages” I quote from the movie “Maestro” Leonard Cohen.
Evocative and a bit chilling. Funny and a little sad. Lovely snapshot of a place and time.
I love this snapshot in time, measured by the lingering emotional impact of your father's participation in the life society had laid out for him, like his clothes. Beautifully written and easy to read - I want more!
So good. So poignant.
I got to know my father well in the last 15 years of his life. Before that he was his version of your paleolithic father.
One of the biggest pleasures for me of A Considerable Age is connecting with writers like you Susie and getting to know you through your writing and our online interactions. Thank you.
What a very strange story!
WOW!
“She managed his wardrobe like a pitching rotation.” Eloquent, evocaand sharply observed. How that time constricted women is an old story. We hear less about the impact on men like your father.