Eulogy for Dad....Written April 29, 2017
I love Jewish rituals. I particularly like the rituals around mourning. The way one moves through stages of grief and eventually has an unveiling to formally close grieving and move forward. But I have to say I am not sure I love our funerals. They are pretty somber. No music no flowers. I understand the reasoning behind it but for my dad, someone whose smile lit up a room and had a laugh that was infectious, it just seems wrong.
I think if he had his way the air would be filled with the sounds of Citi Field and the National Tennis Center, not to mention the soulful sound of Matt's saxophone channeling the grandfather he never knew - my dad's brother Marty.
My dad loved sports, and music, particularly jazz. There were his beloved Brooklyn Dodgers. I don't think anyone loved a team more. And truth be told I'm not completely unconvinced that this years NY Mets didn't hasten his exit. Can we all take a minute and be grateful that he didn't see the game yesterday. Speaking of grateful...I want to say something about gratitude.
Gratitude creates flow, happiness and abundance in your life. It is a simple shift in consciousness that expands your energy and allows more positive energy to enter your life.
There really is so much to be grateful for—so many little things that bring us joy.
So what are the things we can be grateful for today?
-That my dad saw all of his grandchildren complete their bat or bar mitzvah ritual.
-That he enjoyed trips to Boston and Vermont (more in the warm weather) but saw Adam and Mary together again
-That he got to have a big 50th anniversary party with my mom.
-That he traveled all over the world...probably more places after his stroke than before - most notably the epic trip to London last year when against all of our better judgment my mom insisted they go and my dad got to be at the most sacred ground of tennis Wimbledon with me and my family.
So yes it is sad, but please take a minute and think about something fun, something good, some happy memory you have about my dad, and be grateful. Be grateful that we all had the privilege of knowing him. Give Marty and Millie and big kiss. I love you dad.