what a wonderful tribute to your father. I want to know this lovely man. The photo is the bomb. . . Wonderful to see a twinkle not only in his eyes but yours as well. Thanks for sharing Kelly.
"This world he lived in was spectacular, like a party. I realized much later that he made that world, every day, by taking an interest. He asked questions."
Really loved this! I, too, was blessed with parents who took a true interest in others. As I've gotten older, I've found that my best, happiest days happen when I do the same. Thanks for sharing this ◡̈
Love this Kelly, thank you for your share and words. I was lucky enough to ‘intersect’ with your dad when my son was on JV lacrosse at radnor for a year (maybe two). Your dad was always so kind, gregarious and of course that smile always made you smile in return…! :) Kathy
Yes and amen! I didn't understand the value of "weak ties" until I became a batista at 41 to provide health insurance for my family.
I grew to love my regulars, who would, I was astonished to realize, share details of their lives just because I demonstrated genuine interest daily. This changed my life and how I interact with those others choose not to see. Life is rich with opportunities for connection. Start with one person. I promise your life will be better as a result.
What a great mini-story to start the day with! Loved every word, and every thought and truth and the Man behind it. Thanks for sharing another wonderful memory of how your Dad approached life. It makes all of us a beneficiary of his great character, including those of us who wish we had, but never met him! ❣️
This is awesome. I love the power of positive thinking and looking at the world through the lens that your sweet dad did. Thanks for this lovely reminder today! xxoo
I'll always love hearing about your Dad, the famous Greenie. What a giant heart. You are so much the same Kelly -- you shine just like he did.
Though my Dad had a multitude of issues that haunted him from WWII (fighter pilot, shot down over Germany and became a POW after 30 days of evasive action), I considered him to be the President of Fun much of the time mostly when he wasn't drinking too much. Like Greenie, he was known all over our town for the ability to become friends with everyone he met. He was interested from the moment he saw you, from saying hello to whatever followed. From the grocery & hardware stores owners & workers, to the deli, the schools, library and churches, to our neighbors on the street, to his beloved barber who, when my dad was undergoing chemo, told him he would make house calls to cut his hair for the rest of his life. I think Tony maybe thought my Dad wasn't going to live all that much longer, but for the next 14 years, house calls for haircuts it was. When the mailman came to deliver mail, he'd stop in for a chat with my Dad, sitting down in the Barcalounger chairs swapping stories about life and family. In earlier days when we would ski at Bromley, Okemo, Stratton and other mountains, my Dad liked to be the first on the mountain, so he would bang every pot and pan at 4:30 or 5am to greet the day and let us know it was time to get up outta bed. When he proposed to my Mom the story goes when he asked her to marry him and she said yes, he was so overcome with joy he cartwheeled down the side of the road. Yup, my Dad definitely was the President of Fun, he loved people (most especially my Mom), didn't matter who, what age, what your livelihood was, or where you came from, his heart was wide open, his spirit & sense of community always full bore. He's been gone from view since 2010, my Mom since 1997, and yet, they are still right here with me.
I love this story so much. The flip side of it is “my story”. At a difficult and lonely time in my life, I travel frequently to the same city (to visit my daughter and her family) same airport and when at the airport, the same wine bar/ restaurant. The staff is always the same and knows my favorite meal, favorite sparking wine, ask how my visit with my grandkids was. I know their names and things about their lives. We may call them weak ties, but truly I love these people and am always happy to see and catch up with them!
You always write about your pop with such love, respect and wonder. It makes me wish I had known him or maybe even could’ve borrowed him for a bit to find out what good fathering looked, sounded and felt like. Lucky you.
A beautiful beginning to my day!! Our dad’s would have been fast friends — such simple gestures of connection and also profound ‘medicine’ for our deep wellbeing. Creating belonging as a way of walking through each day! Blessings with gratitude!! Judee
what a wonderful tribute to your father. I want to know this lovely man. The photo is the bomb. . . Wonderful to see a twinkle not only in his eyes but yours as well. Thanks for sharing Kelly.
"This world he lived in was spectacular, like a party. I realized much later that he made that world, every day, by taking an interest. He asked questions."
Really loved this! I, too, was blessed with parents who took a true interest in others. As I've gotten older, I've found that my best, happiest days happen when I do the same. Thanks for sharing this ◡̈
Love this Kelly, thank you for your share and words. I was lucky enough to ‘intersect’ with your dad when my son was on JV lacrosse at radnor for a year (maybe two). Your dad was always so kind, gregarious and of course that smile always made you smile in return…! :) Kathy
Good, loving, interested dads are great!!! I loved and miss my dad so much. He was a great father and husband to my mom. We had a home,
always. I am happy you had that kind of dad as well.
Yes and amen! I didn't understand the value of "weak ties" until I became a batista at 41 to provide health insurance for my family.
I grew to love my regulars, who would, I was astonished to realize, share details of their lives just because I demonstrated genuine interest daily. This changed my life and how I interact with those others choose not to see. Life is rich with opportunities for connection. Start with one person. I promise your life will be better as a result.
What a great mini-story to start the day with! Loved every word, and every thought and truth and the Man behind it. Thanks for sharing another wonderful memory of how your Dad approached life. It makes all of us a beneficiary of his great character, including those of us who wish we had, but never met him! ❣️
This is awesome. I love the power of positive thinking and looking at the world through the lens that your sweet dad did. Thanks for this lovely reminder today! xxoo
Mom put this on the record player.: Harry Nilsson’s “Gotta get up!”
I'll always love hearing about your Dad, the famous Greenie. What a giant heart. You are so much the same Kelly -- you shine just like he did.
Though my Dad had a multitude of issues that haunted him from WWII (fighter pilot, shot down over Germany and became a POW after 30 days of evasive action), I considered him to be the President of Fun much of the time mostly when he wasn't drinking too much. Like Greenie, he was known all over our town for the ability to become friends with everyone he met. He was interested from the moment he saw you, from saying hello to whatever followed. From the grocery & hardware stores owners & workers, to the deli, the schools, library and churches, to our neighbors on the street, to his beloved barber who, when my dad was undergoing chemo, told him he would make house calls to cut his hair for the rest of his life. I think Tony maybe thought my Dad wasn't going to live all that much longer, but for the next 14 years, house calls for haircuts it was. When the mailman came to deliver mail, he'd stop in for a chat with my Dad, sitting down in the Barcalounger chairs swapping stories about life and family. In earlier days when we would ski at Bromley, Okemo, Stratton and other mountains, my Dad liked to be the first on the mountain, so he would bang every pot and pan at 4:30 or 5am to greet the day and let us know it was time to get up outta bed. When he proposed to my Mom the story goes when he asked her to marry him and she said yes, he was so overcome with joy he cartwheeled down the side of the road. Yup, my Dad definitely was the President of Fun, he loved people (most especially my Mom), didn't matter who, what age, what your livelihood was, or where you came from, his heart was wide open, his spirit & sense of community always full bore. He's been gone from view since 2010, my Mom since 1997, and yet, they are still right here with me.
Lovely Tribute to Greenie , Kelly
I love this story so much. The flip side of it is “my story”. At a difficult and lonely time in my life, I travel frequently to the same city (to visit my daughter and her family) same airport and when at the airport, the same wine bar/ restaurant. The staff is always the same and knows my favorite meal, favorite sparking wine, ask how my visit with my grandkids was. I know their names and things about their lives. We may call them weak ties, but truly I love these people and am always happy to see and catch up with them!
Reading this made me happy. Thank you for sharing it!
I love this tribute and truth!
You always write about your pop with such love, respect and wonder. It makes me wish I had known him or maybe even could’ve borrowed him for a bit to find out what good fathering looked, sounded and felt like. Lucky you.
A beautiful beginning to my day!! Our dad’s would have been fast friends — such simple gestures of connection and also profound ‘medicine’ for our deep wellbeing. Creating belonging as a way of walking through each day! Blessings with gratitude!! Judee
I like Kelly lots. I use to find her on an app but I miss not seeing her interviews anymore.