Dad would have been so excited to have reached 90. He was expecting to die at 49 when he had a massive coronary. Everything after that would have been "extra" but he worked hard to stop drinking and smoking. He exercised by going roller skating every week and sometimes twice. My dad worked HARD on staying alive. I just wish he had enjoyed it more.
But, perhaps he did enjoy his "extra" life and I just didn't get it. He complained all the time that he had never had a vacation. I felt like the extra 38 non-working years was a total vacation. He was often angry with me and there were years when we didn't have any contact at all. I went to live with him when he came out of rehab after almost dying in 2004. Six weeks out of my life. We reconciled. I was at his bedside when he was dying.
Dad loved to tinker away in his workshop in the basement. Loved to cut the large lawn he had with the riding mower. Liked growing vegetables and making pickles. Loved his dogs. Loved eating apple doughnuts with his morning coffee (4 or 5am) and playing poker on line late into the night.
My dad wasn't the best dad in the world. Never said he loved me. But I forgave him that and still loved him. I just didn't like him.
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