time marches on

today marks the start of a new phase in my dad's life.  dating.  it's even weird to type that word in relation to my father.  i'm sure we'd all prefer that he not have to, that he would've had the rest of his life to be married to my mom.  but that isn't the case and it's time for him to move on.  not in a way that he'll ever forget or "get over" my mom. none of us will.  she is and will always be the most significant person responsible for much of who i am and how i want to be.  and i know my dad would give anything to have her back.  he misses her.  but he is lonely and he deserves to have some companionship in his life.  

dating at 70 something must be so intimidating.  dating at any age is.  but for my dad, it's been 50 years since he's been on a date.  he's excited and nervous.  today he is meeting a woman for lunch. it's not really a blind date because they've been talking on the phone for about a month now.  to make a long story short, one of my cousins suggested they meet.  she is also a widower and used to work for my cousin's husband.  when she described her to me, my cousin said "she's just a really nice person and uncle mike is the nicest person too."  they started out e-mailing, then chatting on the phone every day.  now, they will meet face to face.  

while i feel a little bit guilty wishing him to find happiness (without my mom), i know she would want him to be happy.  she worried so much about him and what would happen to him when she was gone.  i haven't met jeanne yet (i guess i can call her by name) but i've seen her picture and i've seen how happy it makes my dad to have someone that makes him smile.  sure, he loves to spend time with his daughters and grandkids, he has his golf buddies and is a busy guy.  but there's an excitement and a sparkle that has been missing from him for a while now.  i hope this is the start of at the least, a nice friendship.  if it grows into something more serious, i will smile and look up to the heavens for i know that my mom will be smiling right back at us.  she was that kind of person.  her family was the most important thing and our happiness was her happiness.  and i bet she and jeanne would've really liked each other.  they share a love of shopping (with coupons!) and both have the same warm, welcoming smile.  my mom will always own a big piece of my dad's heart but his heart is big enough to find room for someone else.   a few days ago, we launched some sky lanterns on my mom's birthday (she would've turned 70).  we all wrote messages on them.  i wish i had taken pictures of those messages but my dad's said simply ; 
"tis (they each called each other that, never knew why) , i still miss you alot.  love always, mike."
 i don't think any of us will ever stop missing her.  happy birthday in heaven mom!