“Oh quickly disappearing photograph in my more slowly disappearing hand”*
by chuckofish
Today is the birthday of our pater, who would be 95. He died 25 years ago.
As I grow older, I realize that I take after him much more than I had previously thought. Although I was much (so much) closer to my mother, we were not as alike as my sister and she were. I was always the shy one, and my father was like that. Also, my mother was the really intelligent one of the pair. My father and I were/are just smart enough to impress some people.
My father was a historian who had his heroes, as do I. His tended to be military heroes, like Napoleon and MacArthur and Grant. It would be interesting now to talk to him about them. What was the appeal of Bonaparte? (He was a collector, among many things, of Napoleon memorabilia.)
I think my father would have really enjoyed the job that I have now, working at a big university in a small school where lots of interesting, intelligent people come every day to learn about interesting things without the pressure of grades or homework and the interference of parents and peers. It is the perfect place for people with minds like ours–curious about many things, but without the desire/drive to go too far. I finished my master’s thesis in great part to show him that I could (he didn’t finish his). I’m not sure if he noticed.
Well, self-knowledge is a good thing. It keeps you humble and it can keep you out of trouble.
When I toast ANCIII tonight–only once because he was, after all, a terrific alcoholic–I will also toast the wonderful Doris Day, who turned 95 yesterday. You go, girl!
P.S. I Watched The Outsiders (1983) and the book is better. Big Surprise.
*”Portrait of My Father as a Young Man” by Rainer Maria Rilke
dual personalities 
Did you hear that Doris *thought* she was turning 93 and then found her birth certificate? Love you very much my (truly smart!) mama!
The link is to an article about that! I’m sure back in her Hollywood days they shaved a few years off her age and she forgot all about it years ago.
Lovely post! I’m glad you mentioned Doris Day. I saw a snarky headline yesterday that noted she thought it was her 93rd birthday. I thought — why would anyone feel the need to imply that she is dotty? What bad manners.
Susie and I posted our comments simultaneously!
and we both missed mom’s link! I should be clicking more dutifully!!
As we get older it seems to me more and more that my father also takes after his father much more than he would admit, even though I can’t say for sure of course since I don’t remember my grandfather. Still, the occasional grumpy political rant has to come from somewhere!
I don’t really see your father having that much in common with our father. He and I are also not alike. I see him as more of a Cameron. What you describe is just grumpy old man syndrome which we all suffer from and you will too, no doubt. 😉
Hahaha, fair enough, I’ll take your word for it. Indeed, I already find myself occasionally going off on an extended political tangent to an audience of uninterested friends. Heaven help them when I’m in my 60s!