25
3 Years
I remember:
Wandering the halls of Johns Hopkins as a kid.
The elevator races with my brother, father and I in the buildings. We would hold all three elevators (on the weekends) and then all jump in and see who made it to the floor first. One time dad forgot to tell us which floor we were racing to and thus we ended up at different floors. Dad spent hours trying to find us! I wandered around asking if anyone knew my dad and they took me to his office, but he was out looking for me and my brother. Finally he went back to his office to call mom and inform that he lost us, but we both ended up there.
Jack and I would go with Dad to Lab and he would give us a chunk of dry ice to play with in the hallways. We would spend hours kicking it around, all while Dad was doing research for his Ph.D.
Riding in the back of Dad’s 1968 Charger. This was the early days of car safety and the Charger was a unique car. The still yearn for the sound it produces and the memories that come with the car. I rode with him from Cleveland, Ohio to St. Joseph, Missouri in the car when it was on the way for restoration. No cruise control and no A/C in the summer, but the impressions were worth a lifetime.
Driving from London to Paris to Dublin when I was younger. We took a trip with Mom, Dad, and Cousin Michael, arriving in Paris. Dad drove us from a meeting in Paris, to a meeting in London, then to a meeting in Dublin. It was an adventure and the early stages of when Dad showed me that traveling is growth.
Driving the Messerschmitt around the West University house. It was a fun adventure and I remember driving to Dallas with Dad to pick-up the car. Dad always had a thing for cars, odder the better!
The motorcycle rides. There were many of years of rides with dad and his passion for the motorcycle was very evident. Ever since acquiring the 1976 Triumph Bonneville in 2002, the motorcycle became his new mode of transportation.
The RV trip to Sturgis. For all 4 of us being in a confined space, the trip was a success. It was long times in the bus, but the energy was high and the spirits were unstoppable. I remember driving across Nebraska with the steering wheel at ½ turn as the side wind was trying to push us off the road for 100’s of miles. All of this while the motorcycles on the trailer behind. The view of Mount Rushmore from the trip stands firm.
The trip to Budapest and seeing dad in his element. I was allowed to participate in the cadaver course he was teaching and thus I was given a glimpse of his abilities to disperse his knowledge.
Jacks Wedding and the RV trip to Colorado. It was a long week, but the support of the parents made the trip memorable.
Amanda’s wedding. The logistics were taxing, but the outcome was better than expected. Watching Dad dance with Amanda is realization that it is something only a father daughter can experience. Brendan drove the Charger that evening and Dad was proud of his new son-in-law.
The walks around the living room as the disease progressed. The spirit to overcome was there, but the physical attributes were limited. It was hard on the family, but support was always near.
Working on his book. It was hours of revisions and many trials and tribulations involved. It was a project that created an outcome which is still pertinent.
The ambulance in the middle of the night. The realization that lives have changed.
The transition. 3 years ago today. I remember leaving for work that morning after spending the night next to Dad. The motorcycle accident with the bus three days earlier and now the pager buzzing in a morning meeting. It was the sound and vibration of change.
~Jason
