I’m a Lucky Man

Lest I forget what a lucky man I am, in the last week we sat in our box at the Pennsylvania Ballet and saw the premier of Dance of the Animals; we sat in our front row seats at Walnut Street Theater to see the best rendition of Les Miserables ever; and yesterday we sat in the front row of Cirque du Soleil.

On top of that, the best part was that my teenage boys go up early yesterday morning to join me for a Father’s Day breakfast at Nudy’s Eastside Cafe. Yep, I’m a lucky man.

Posted on June 16, 2008
Filed Under Frank's World | 2 Comments

I Think About My Dad a Lot More These Days

I told Sheryl this morning that my dreams last night were filled with people who were gone. I talked to my Grandpa O’Neill, my mom’s dad, a bunch at some sort of bingo thing in the basement of a church. Pop — that’s what we called my dad’s dad — was walking on a street. My father-in-law, Howard, handed me a newspaper at some sort of cabin were were in. And my dad was in his policeman’s uniform.

I’m not going to read anything into those dreams. They were very nice and comforting, not scary or some premonition. In fact, in the last couple of years I’ve had a lot of dreams about my dad. Funny thing is that he’s been dead for over 20 years. I have only a few pictures of him, mostly when he was sick toward his last days. But when I dream of him, he’s robust, smiley, and probably about my age now. If that were the case, I’d be 12 or so, however I’m an adult and so is he. We don’t talk much, he’s just there.

Sometimes that’s good enough for a dad. They’re always there even when they’re not. That works for me this Father’s Day.

Posted on June 15, 2008
Filed Under Frank's World | 6 Comments

I Want an English Garden

I’ve had a couple of walks through Bryn Mawr this past week because of my dental trial and tribulations. While going to the dentist isn’t something I like, seeing all the English gardens in that town made it a lot nicer.

I’ve liked that style of gardening since I’ve been a kid. Back then, city people put in a lot of flowers and ground cover and not much in the way of grass. I’d love to do something like this with a section of our garden. If I had my druthers, I’d come up with a plan to do the entire front of the house like this. It would stick out like a sore thumb in our cookie cutter neighborhood, but it would be cool. I’d start with a privet hedge along the street to frame in the yard. I’d plant pachysandra underneath. I’d put in lavender, salvia, bluebells, hyacinths, jasmine, and catmint. And I’d pack in those plants so that no grass would grow underneath.

It’s just an idea. But with most actions, they have to start with a dream.

Posted on June 12, 2008
Filed Under Gardening | 11 Comments

I’m Voting Republican

Matt sent me this link. I’m voting Republican…not.

Posted on June 10, 2008
Filed Under Society | 2 Comments

Toothless

Dangit, I was eating some breakfast this morning and my temporary crown popped off. Now I have to walk to the dentist this afternoon in 98 degree heat. Toothless.

I get my permanent crown next Monday. I like to refer to it as my coronation.

Posted on June 10, 2008
Filed Under Frank's World | 3 Comments

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