I took my dad to the Charles River. We talk a brief walk on the path and paused to look out at the water, rowers and random children feeding the ducks.
We didn’t say a word except when we were talking about a home repair that my brother-in-law was nice enough to take on. That is when he wrote me a note and said in Italian “that is what I always wanted to do with you.” A painful reminder of unfinished business.
At some point, he saw me checking emails on my cellphone and he began laughing. I knew he was reflecting on how far away his life was from cellphones and emails. He then pointed to himself and gave himself the thumbs down; a far-too-familiar hand signal that he is not well.