He died at 96.
We were blessed to spend that time together, for
I learned to appreciate him like
Never before.
But I wondered why he could be so stubborn.
Why did he balk at my suggestions which
Were for his benefit, or
So I thought.
More times than I could count, he would say,
"You just don't know what it's like to get old."
And I agreed with him.
I didn't know.
It's sobering, now, to discover that I'm becoming
A lot like Dad, both in his good and not so
Good ways.
I'm finally beginning to understand, and I
Wish I could tell him so.