I don’t know how many of you know. I lost my dad, June 2nd of this year to Leukemia. He was 77 yrs old and a great guy and father to have.

My father was sober for almost 30 yrs when he died. He was 21 days short of his 30th AA Anniversary.

I remember him during the holidays. But especially Christmas. See I am about to turn 55 here in 21 days and each year as I was a kid he made Christmas special.

Back when we all were little and lived in the house at 3245 Emmaus in Zion, IL, my dad who was still drink and drove taxi at night would always come in from the night of driving and waited to fall asleep after each of us kids open our presents.  Which is something I would have never expected of him.

My Grandma, his mom would always come and visit during that time. I remember the year my mom went on a drinking, drug binge. It was the year I turned 16. No sweet 16 party for me. But, my grandma and my dad made it special.

Grandma in her own special way would wrap my presents in different paper to make it see like it wasn’t a Christmas present. My dad would sit there with my birthday cake and we would hold it up for the camera to say yes I had a birthday.

Will continue to write as things come and memories expressed.