Here He Is With His Father
Here He Is With His Father
He didn't know this photo existed until 4 months ago.
Here he is with his father. He didn’t know this photo existed until four months ago. What he didn’t know back then was that his father would die just two weeks shy of his 14th birthday.
He keeps the picture on his desk. He looks at it often. He, himself, is now 70. He has many pictures on his long desk. Here’s a picture of his three children. They are about the same age as he is in the photo with his father. Today they are 43, 40 and 38.
He has four granddaughters. They call him Papoo (PAHPOO). And yes, he has their pictures on his desk. Many of his friends became grandfathers before he did. Several said they had no idea it would be so meaningful; that it completed the circle of life. He wasn’t envious. Just annoyed whenever someone said that. “Circle of life” - what does that even mean? After his first granddaughter was born, he said the exact same annoying words that his friends said.
Ok, ok. Let’s get the whole gang in here. He has three sisters. This picture, which also resides on his long desk, was taken in spring of 1967 at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach. He is the one on the right.
10 days before his 70th birthday, he suffered a heart attack.
The photo of him and his father was given to him as a birthday gift by his 97-year-old mother. She is in remarkably good health. He can’t tell you the number of people who have told him, because of his mother’s good health, he too, would live into his 90’s.
Ten days before his 70th birthday, he suffered a heart attack. He nearly died. Since then, no one has assured him that he would make 90.
Several days after his heart attack, he sent the following letter to friends.
He has a love/hate relationship with autocorrect. Autocorrect got the best of him that day.
Dearest Friends,
On Saturday, I suffered a heartache. In the morning, I didn’t feel well. By mid-morning, I had heartburn. I napped. When I woke, I felt lightheaded. W looked at me and said, “I’m calling 911.” Seconds later, I passed out with my eyes open. My skin turned grey and clammy. Thank god W was there. She knew exactly what to do. She called 911, straddled me and roused me to consciousness. A nine-person team of paramedics, EMTs and Glencoe police poured thru the front door just as I regained consciousness. In the ambulance, I was told I was having a heartache and the cardiac catheter unit was being assembled to meet me at the hospital. Ninety minutes later, I was the proud owner of two stents. I’m lucky they got to me so fast. There’s no damage to my heart and the prognosis is great. Now, it’s follow Dr’s orders: take the meds, cardiac rehab and a heartache healthy diet.
So that’s me. How was your weekend?
Ten days later, he and W thanked the Glencoe emergency medical service team that saved him. When they saw him, they said, “Boy, you look a lot better.” He addressed the paramedic who treated him in the ambulance.
“You told me I was having a heart attack?”
“Yes, I’m blunt.”
“You told me I was going to be okay?”
“Yes, I did.”
“How did you know?”
“I didn’t have a clue.”
They all laughed.
He is six months down the road from his heart attack. He is fully recovered. He is back playing tennis 2-3 times a week.
The heart attack scared the hell out of him. It scared the hell out of a lot of people in his life.
Occasionally, he is overcome with existential dread. He did almost die. When that happens, he goes into his office, sits down and finds comfort in all the photos on his long desk.
If that doesn’t work, he takes a Klonopin.
Do You Know This Man?: An Irreverent Memoir is an ongoing exploration of the one character who eludes, confounds and mystifies. Me. Right now, it’s available for free, including being able to listen to some of my plays and dive into the best of Sportscape Magazine.
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