Happy birthday
Happy Birthday, Dad.
If you had lived you would be 106 today.
Wherever you are, I hope you are well and enjoying whatever it is you do Up There.
Things have changed a little bit in the last thirty three years since you went on your last journey.
We have things like Climate Change, and the Interweb but the tap in the yard is still dripping.
Do you remember how we used to climb on the roof to twiddle the television aerial to try to pick up a signal? Well, we now have a little dish thing up there and can pick up as many television channels as we want. Hundreds of television stations. And they are all shite.
One of the really big innovations that has come along is the computer. It is like a little television that is connected to a typewriter. You type away on the typewriter and letters and things appear on the television screen. There are things called programmes that you put in so that you can get it to do specific tasks, like calculate your tax bill or the best place to get Viagara. The latter is another new innovation, but we’ll skip that for now.
Computers are wonderful things. They can calculate things at unbelievable speeds and if you are lucky, they will actually give you the right answer before they crash.
You would have enjoyed the Interweb. Somehow, they have managed to connect nearly all the computers in the world together so that you can sit in the living room and access unbelievable amounts of pornography and things like that. Isn’t it wonderful the things they can do?
The house is much as you left it. [That reminds me – I must get around to dusting it one of these days.] We did put in central heating because Herself used to complain about breaking the ice in the kitchen sink before she could wash herself. I also finally got around to replacing that blown bulb in the lobby.
The garden is nearly the same too. I have even cut the grass a few times. I’m afraid the field of raspberries is gone now, but I think you would approve of the crop that is now growing there.
I have tried to look after the place as you would have wished. I think you would be happy with my efforts.
If ever you decide to try to contact the living, do give me a shout. I miss our chats. If I’m not in at the time, you can always get me on my mobile [Yup – we carry our telephones around in out pockets these days] or leave a message and I’ll get back to you.
I miss you.
Your loving son.
G
I love this. I’ve actually welled up. You’re quite sensitive under all that hair.
Buala bos.
If you need anybody to weed that strawberry patch, let me know.
I hope he gives you a shout and you two can have a nice chat.
E Mum – Will you please stop saying I’m sensitive. I have a reputation to maintain.
Radge – Go raibh maith agat.
K8 – Strawberry patch? Do you mean the raspberry patch? You are welcome to weed it any time, but all “samples” will be confiscated. You can pay for your stash like anyone else.
Brianf – That would be great. I live in hope?
I have asked my old man to say Hi to him ; should he run in to him. I bet they would get along.
TT – Thanks. If he is anything like yourself…….?!
He was a better man than me. Not as good looking, though !
I miss my father as well, especially the long talks we used to have. You might have even thought we were intelligent if you’d been able to sit in on the conversation. We’d never admit to it though.
I’ll ask him to say hi as well (and to tt’s dad if he happens to be there).
I’ve meant to do a post like this for quite awhile now. Perhaps I will soon. Thanks for a fine post, Grandad.
It looks like we are organising the beginnings of a good party Up There. But how are they to recognise each other?
We’ll just let them figure it out on their own, more fun that way. Besides, I don’t really think they’ll have a problem with it since they’re not bound to mortal limitations as we are.
Tu as raison.
This is a great post – really enjoy reading it – thanks!
I loved this, hanky and all.
My Daddy would be 92 this year. Should be 92, I want to say, but he’s been gone for over 20 years now. I often wonder what he would think of all the changes in the past few years, like the ones you mentioned — the mobile phones, the internet, people flying in aeromaplanes even when there’s no war on. What a world!