Last night we had a car emergency.  Sean’s old 1994 Nissan Altima will not accelerate.  It turns over and goes in reverse but it does not like the “D” on his steering column.  He was working a 5:30pm-1:30am shift at work so he needed a ride to work and then a night owl to pick him up when his shift was over.  We worked out the transportation issues but we still have the problem of the car to deal with in the meantime.  (I let him take my car.)

I started to grab the phone to call Dad about the problem and then I realized I could not call him anymore.  Dad was the kind of guy who could diagnose a car problem by a description of the sound and some kind of idea of what was not working on the car.  He carried in his head a list of preferred mechanics and a general price list of the cost of repairs.  I was always amazed at his ability to know that stuff.  He also had a way of chatting with mechanics which usually resulted in additional information about repairs and avoiding unnecessary expenses.  Dad was a whiz at this stuff.

I often tried to tell Dad what his knowledge about these things meant to me.  He would just shake off the compliment.  He was not always comfortable with expressions of sentimental feelings.  Yet I know he was a tenderhearted and kind man.

I know in the coming days and months there will be so many similar experiences of loss and reminders of Dad’s place in our lives.  In meantime, are there any telephone mechanics who’d like to help me out?