Today he would be 94 years old. Instead, he’s been away from us for 10 years.

I’d like to share a few things with you, Dad. A few things I know you would love to hear about.  First, are you ready for this?  I am going to be a Grandma!  One of my stepsons and his beautiful wife are expecting a baby. You never met any of them, but I know you would be thrilled.  A Grandma!  Can you imagine? All my gray hair, which I got through your genes, I must add – is finally going to have a nice reason to be here.

The baby will be born in the end of March, so we are planning a trip to California to meet her/him the following month. And, remember how I used to love to run? When we fly to see the baby, we will take the opportunity to run together a beautiful race, from a place called Big Sur to a place called Carmel. Gorgeous places. We will run only 10.6 miles, the marathon is out of the question for us due to the injuries accumulated over the years…  We are not young kids anymore… (sigh).

Another thing you would love to know. This week, Phil and I decided to celebrate your memory by playing chess.  We set a board over the kitchen table and each day we do one or two moves.  I must say, Dad, you were a fantastic chess player but a very impatient teacher.  Hummmmm…. am I guilty of the same crime? I suppose I might be…. ANYWAY,  playing chess definitely brings you here to our home. I can close my eyes and see that look in your face, super serious, as you analyzed the chessboard and considered your next move. Then, I would quickly move my piece, and you would raise your eyes, trying your best not to seem too upset and say “Are you SURE you want to do that?”

Finally, let me share something I know would make you very very happy, and proud.  This is a video about the research of our lab. I think it captures the essence of what we do, and hopefully how much we love doing it.

That’s about it for now, Dad.  Ten years, five months, a few days that you are gone.  But gone is a relative term.