Rant #2,271: My Dad and Hanukkah Rocks

This is going to be a two-part Rant, and today, it is all good.

That is because today is my father's 87th birthday.

My father proved to me, once again, that he is a truly remarkable character, a person that perseveres and has lots more living to do before he is done.

Several weeks ago, this old Marine took a real plop on the ground, hitting his head and his back on the pavement. He had to be rushed to the hospital, and honestly, I did not know what to think when I finally go there.

He was sprawled out, but was fully conscious of his surroundings and what was going on.

A nurse came over to my mother, and asked for some personal information, which my father had in his wallet.

My mother asked for the wallet, my father took it out of his pocket, and, since he is a lefty, cocked his left hand and threw it to my mother with the force of a Major League Baseball pitcher zeroing in on the strike zone.

From that point on I knew that my father was OK, and over the past several weeks of recovery, he proved me to be right, but not just right, but spot on.

Within a few weeks, he was walking around without the use, or with minimal use, of a cane, he later was able to drive again, and he pretty much went back to his normal retirement living.

Oh yes, did I mention that he also had pneumonia? Well, he also kicked that once again in this whole process.

With my mother's help, things are pretty much back to normal with him.

Does he hurt? Yes, but he says he can handle it.

And he has proven to me that he is a real-life Superman; maybe he isn't 25 anymore, but he can do anything he wants to do.

He is truly my hero--a veteran, a real warrior, and believe me, I know how lucky I am to have him as one of the bedrocks of our small family.

And that leads me to Hanukkah, which begins at sunset this Sunday evening.

This has been a horrid year for myself and my family, with one hurdle after another having to be scaled before more hurdles are put in front of us.

But I think that this is going to be a happy Hanukkah, because my father appears to be fine, and another close family member in my extended family, who just had a major operation, is coming home this weekend, so our small family appears to be whole once again.

Hanukkah and health go together--whether it is the health and well-being of the old synagogue, which had oil in its candelabra to light for just one day, but somehow managed to be lit for eight days--or for family members, who have had their ups and downs this year.

My family seems to be looking up--we were so far down, we have to be moving up--so this Hanukkah will be a happy one.

It is also a time for reflection, and puts us on course for the coming year.

The gifts are a nice way to celebrate the ones we love, but being with family really is the most important gift that we can give each other.

And the one thing that I have that I really cherish is a small, but very strong and supportive family, We watch out for each other as neighborhoods used to watch over their inhabitants, and when one is down, there are others there to pick us up and make sure we are OK.

This year proved that point, and during the eight days of Hanukkah, we will certainly celebrate that, celebrate family, and celebrate life.

So, in closing, happy birthday to my father, and to all those who celebrate, happy Hanukkah to one and all.

I will speak to you again on Monday. Have a great weekend.