Today, was a wierd day.

[Ματθιας]

Today has been a weird day.

Today is my Dad's 93rd birthday. It's also the anniversary of his death, nearly a decade ago.

Every year, on this day, I get up extra early and start cooking my Dad's favorite meal, posole. It's basically hominy, with pork, and red chili. It's not hard to make, just time consuming.

I cook the posole and take it to my Mom's so I can help her with the chili part. My Mom is 92.

I miss my Dad, a lot, and I had a waking dream about him. Ever since he died, I've had vivid dreams about him - dreams when he was young and healthy. This time was no different. The dream was about him cooking, like he used to do for the holidays. I don't remember what was said, if anything, but I remember an extra plate on the table.

When I woke up, I felt good about the day.

We got done cooking, for the most, part by 1pm. The rest of the time cooking is just simmering, stirring occasionally.

As usual, I take my mom to the cemetery in the late afternoon and we usually leave a can of beer on the headstone. My Mom brought an extra can, so as she said, "he can have a beer with somebody". There was a nickel and dime on his headstone when we got there. My was a Korean era Vet,

We get home, and start simmering again, adding a few spices, and getting the tortillas warmed.

And just when we start eating, I get a call from my Aunt from Texas. My Dad's youngest brother passed away this morning.

Out of the 11 bothers and sisters, she's the only one left.

The best/strage part of today, my mom and I finally got the recipe just right. The posole tastes just like his! Until today, it was always missing something...

Happy Birthday, Dad! I love you and miss you!

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

He lives on in your heart. And always will.

 

[moosedog]

Beautiful story.

 

[Timothy2700]

Thank you for the post. And helping your mom with the family traditions, new and old.
Any chance of sharing the recipe?

 

[Ματθιας]

Thank you for the post. And helping your mom with the family traditions, new and old.
Any chance of sharing the recipe?

Yeah, I'll post the recipe. Sometime next week.

As i said, it's not hard to make, just time consuming and playing with the spice proportions to get everything just right.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Me mum passed a year ago yesterday at 90. We were extremely close and very much alike.

Yesterday, for brunch, I made her favorite breakfast; soft boiled eggs and her homemade corned beef hash with a cuppa.

 

[pasound]

So sad. My Dad passed on Mom's birthday 25 years ago, on December 8th. In truth, too many relatives have passed on other relatives' birthdays...

 

[bobsguns]

My mom is 94 now. Every Christmas I wonder if it's the last one.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

My father passed in 1968, my mother passed in 1997. Not a day goes by without my thoughts of them. Now being a great grandfather many times I wish they could see what they started so many years ago.

 

[Rudi]

It's tough. My Dad passed 6 months ago. Mom's been gone for 7 years. Miss them. Looking forward to that posole recipe.

 

[jscheck]

Beautiful. Glad you got the recipe right!

 

[llowry61]

Some days are weird like that in life. I am glad you have your mom to reminisce about your dad. He sounds like a great friend to you as well as a father. I have no idea what pasole is but it's the memory that counts.

My dad passed about 5 months ago and I have had a couple of dreams of him that were quite vivid. I woke up and came back to the reality that he is gone. I find myself thinking about him while doing repairs around the house or hunting. He was an engineer and taught me these things.

I spend as much time with mom as I can.

 

[WardenRoss]

The hospital that my dad passed away in had a policy where they played Braun’s Lullaby over the intercom system whenever a baby was born.

At the time I didn’t know this.

As he took his last breath, the lullaby came over the system. Apparently a baby came into the world the same moment as he left us.

It was beautifully eerie sound.

I felt a peaceful void as he left. I miss him everyday.

 

[spricks]

Nice story. Moms somehow know. Seems like your Dad enjoyed a brewski
with his younger bro, welcoming him home!

 

[robvious]

food is a touchstone to family now gone.. the smells, tastes etc bring family memories back to the front.. I just have been communicating with my siblings because I just made a batch of mom's holiday cookies... the house smells more like a home now.. and the days that things happen are funny or frightening sometimes... the man that would have been my father-in-law had he made it another 13 months, died on my dad's & my wife's godmother's birthday...

 

[SMSgt]

Both my parents passed during separate Christmas holidays. It's not my favorite time of the year anymore.

 

[JRB416]

So sorry for your losses but I'm glad you have great memories to cherish. As I grow older memories of my parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends that have passed mean more to me everyday.

Wonderful you still have your mom. Here's wishing you many more happy years with her company.

 

[jeffrefrig]

I miss my dad and mom a lot. They left in March and April of 2007, 6 weeks apart. OP, so sad for your loss today of your uncle. I’m glad you had a good day with Mom. I feel so bad for all who have lost loved ones this time of year ( or any damned time).
Peace to you.

 

[Sevens]

Powerful story, I read it to my wife and we are both teared up.

 

[GypsmJim]

The hospital that my dad passed away in had a policy where they played Braun’s Lullaby over the intercom system whenever a baby was born.

At the time I didn’t know this.

As he took his last breath, the lullaby came over the system. Apparently a baby came into the world the same moment as he left us.

It was beautifully eerie sound.

I felt a peaceful void as he left. I miss him everyday.

My Mom always said that when we had the first grandchild, Grandpa would pass away. She was right. Except that he passed soon after we announced to him that he would be a great grandpa.