Feliz Navidad

[Note: I wrote and posted this entry on my blog in 2005, the first year I started it. I like to think it's still relevant, and of course, he still doesn't look his age]

My dad, Tony, sends odd greeting cards...on the wrong days...with sentiments written in Spanish (which he doesn't speak).

Mainstream has never been his forte. He was the third child of twelve born to Irish descendants living on a small farm in Michigan - seven boys and five girls, all of whom have Irish names (Shannon, Erin, etc.) - except my dad, Tony.

He was a tall, skinny kid who was usually squirrelled away in a corner, reading a library book, until his brothers found him to drag him back to reality by beating the crap out of him or throwing him off the roof. He always wanted to be a monk, surrounded by God, books, introspection and maybe an alcoholic beverage or two.

Facts and quirks:

*he had a full scholarship to Michigan State, but left after one year to hitch hike to California

*he wears a broken watch with no face from a motorcycle accident he had 35 years ago

*an insomniac, he prefers to grocery shop between 3:00 and 5:00 a.m.

*he tries to keep telemarketers on the phone by talking to them as long as possible...his record is over an hour.

*he bought and fixed up 20 old Apple GS computers to set up a computer lab in his classroom

*he's an audio/video equipment junkie - and still has Harold and Maude and The Vanishing Point on Beta tapes

*he loves music, from Hank Williams to Bob Dylan to Tori Amos

*if you touch him from behind, duck, because he will turn around swinging
he turned 60 this year and has no grey hair (of course, he does have my son for the summer, so that's likely to change).

I believe one of the biggest factors in shaping Tony's life was his stuttering. As a child, I remember making phone calls for him - he would often not be able to verbalize the "hello, is..." before the person at the other end hung up. Sometimes, he'd call back several times, hoping to get the words out, until the other person would assume it was a prankster on the other end. He is one of the most intelligent people I know, but spent close to fifteen years working at General Motors, dreaming of becoming a teacher.

He still pauses before words when he's anxious or stressed, but he went back to college at 42 and finally has that dream job teaching 5th graders. Apparently a late bloomer, he also got married last fall. Intelligent, philosophical, generous, honest, compassionate, caring and funny...I hope to be more like this old soul when I grow up.