100 Things I Love, Childhood, Family, Favorite Things, Grief, Life

78 things my dad loved

Kari

i came up with this idea one day in september when i was really missing him. it felt like a meaningful way to honor him during his birthday month.

then my mom suggested that we find 78 things (in place of 100) he loved in honor of what would have been his 78th birthday today, november 4th.

i couldn’t agree more.

please join us in celebrating dad today by reading about all the things he cherished.

-his best friend sara

-red licorice

–music

-the chicago cubs

-vanilla ice cream

-talking to his son on the phone every sunday

-working in the yard

-root beer

-growing tomatoes

-westerns

-his children, matt and kari

-listening to classical music to relax

-pizza from his favorite local place (always pie cut)

-golfing with mike at the nearby nine-hole course.

-then grabbing breakfast at his favorite spot in town, where the servers greet them by name

-…and his usual order—corned beef hash, of course.

-shopping at costco with my mom

-tennessee

-lou malnati’s deep dish, sausage

-visiting with the neighbors over the fence while working in the yard

-his grandchildren anna, ella, and will

-the smoky mountains

-sitting on the deck with his wife listening to music

-daily word games on his phone

-spam- the kind you eat, not the kind you delete

-cargo shorts

-cashews

-new balance shoes

-the beatles

–nonpareils

-his dogs past and present-sunset, snoopy, fancy, buffy, rocky, tink, and dolly

-orange jelly slices

-funny memes

-lemon meringue pie

-crossword puzzles

-the color blue

-culver’s chili

-being a dog parent (and grandparent)

-pizza hut thin crust cheese pizza

-home depot

-being a dad (and grandad)

-trains

-working in the garage and basement

-carrot cake

-his beloved piggly wiggly grocery store in town

-pumpkin pie

-autumn

-cold milk with pizza

–unkers

-mcdonald’s coffee

-making his homemade spaghetti and meatballs every christmas eve (he wrote about how the tradition started here)

–portillo’s

-decorating the christmas tree

-cafe mocha from starbucks

-hall’s cough drops

-potato chips

-lilacs

-old style beer

-apple cider donuts

-the new york yankees

-the ohio state buckeyes

–the goonies

-good and plenty

–old fashioned cocktail

-dad jokes

-jelly beans

-sunday night dinner

-chuckles candy

-his riding lawnmower

-munchos

-us four 🖤

-brats on the grill

-being a military veteran (navy)

-to dance

-to sing

-door county, wisconsin

-dairy queen

-playing birthday by the beatles on his phone to celebrate our birthdays

happy birthday, dad. sending all of my love through the stratosphere- i hope it reaches you. 🖤🌈

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60 thoughts on “78 things my dad loved”

  1. What a lovely list Kari <3

    My Dad was absolutely thrilled to hear that my daughter was expecting her first child and clapped his hands (he was already deep into dementia). Unfortunately, we lost him before she was born, but the joy he felt was very evident, so that’s the memory we hold dear.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh, I love that! What a beautiful memory!

      My grandmother passed away while I was pregnant with my youngest, who is named after her. She got to touch my belly and said, ‘I think she will be a girl.’ She was right. ❤️

      Liked by 1 person

  3. What a wonderful idea, Kari! Hopefully it will help him ‘show up’ on his birthday.
    I especially loved reading about his spaghetti and meatball tradition on Christmas Eve. I wondered about ‘good and plenty.’ That was the name of a family style Pennsylvania Dutch restaurant back here … ?
    May you feel the love on your dad’s 78th bday.❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I think I’ve heard of the restaurant Good n Plenty! But his favorite was the candy called Good and Plenty—it’s similar to Licorice Allsorts.

      We definitely felt the love yesterday. Thank you so much for being a part of it.😘❤️

      Liked by 1 person

  5. This is a great list. A wonderful tribute to your dad and a lovely way to share him with us.

    Vanilla ice cream . . . so under rated. Culvers is my dad’s fav place to eat. Love the multiple pizza mentions . . . a true fan.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. What a great way to honor a great man! Your dad liked a lot of the same things I do.

    He also sounds very well-rounded, given his fondness for both Lou Malnati’s deep dish, sausage and Pizza Hut think crust, cheese. Sounds like milk was on the table either way.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Thank you for sharing the idea, and your list, and therefore, your dad. It’s a lovely idea, a great way to navigate things like birthday anniversaries that become harder once those we love are gone.

    I’m going to hold this idea in the back of my head for my mom’s birthday.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. You really didn’t get your fair share of birthdays together, and I just want to say that. 77 feels far too early. What strikes me most about this list is the ordinariness of the things on it–people, food, everyday activities. And from all your accounts, your dad was a happy person. I love this testimony to not needing big, exciting things in our lives for them to be happy and have meaning. We need small, good things in our day-to-day. Once, I was on an Italian beach with my now ex-husband, and he was talking about how amazing it was. It was a beautiful place, and I’m glad I got the chance to experience it, but mostly so I could see what I said to him:  “It’s amazing, but not any more amazing than the beaches we get to go to all the time at home.” I love a post like this because it helps me see through those kind of eyes, without having to travel halfway around the world! (Although, man did I love the food in Italy! With all the pizza on your dad’s list, I’m guessing he would have, too.)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. My dad was such a happy person, and he truly loved the ordinariness of life—that’s where I get it from. My mom is a lot like that too, but I’m very much my dad; my dad is me. All I really want in life are those small, good things in my day-to-day, and he taught me that just by being himself. His little rituals and the fun things he enjoyed led to my practice of grateful journaling and keeping track of those moments.

      When I read your comment and saw you mention Italy, I was stunned. Your words felt like a wink from my dad, Rita. He was stationed in Naples, Italy, in the Navy and loved it there. He always wanted to take my mom back. When he was first diagnosed, he told her that his biggest regret was not taking her to Italy. But reading your comment makes me smile. A beach is a beach, and green grass is green grass, but my dad absolutely loved Italian pizza—in fact, he raved about it. 😘❤️

      Liked by 1 person

  10. This is wonderful! And what a wonderful idea! ❤️

    Did your dad have any favorite stories he liked to tell?

    I’ve started writing down my mom’s fav stories & I’m so grateful.

    I really need to do this with other family members too. My in-laws have the best family stories! And something tells me your dad would too! 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It’s so good to see you here, Maddie! I’ve been thinking about you and hope you’re doing well. 😘❤️

      He loved sharing stories about his days in the Navy—he was stationed in Italy and always wanted to take my mom back there someday. When he was first diagnosed, he told her his biggest regret was not taking her to Italy. He also enjoyed reminiscing about his foster dad and the times they had together. His childhood was complicated and difficult. So he didn’t always talk about that. I love the idea of writing down stories! I’m going to start doing this with my mom. I can’t believe I never thought of it as a writer!

      Right after he was diagnosed, I got my dad a book called The Story of My Life, which is a journal you can write in every day. I have one that I write in here and there, too. I found his in his den after he passed, and the pages were still empty. Sigh.

      I’ll give it to my mom. ❤️

      Like

  12. Why do all men love Home Depot so much?! It’s such a stressful place for me.

    Hugs to you, Kari. I’m sure your dad would love that you made this list for him.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. What a beautiful tribute to your Dad by sharing things he loved.

    Well, I have to say that the very first photograph of he and your Mom really touched me because you can FEEL the love they shared. Soulmates. And btw, that cake is gorgeous!

    And of course, the one of he and you and your brother? LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! I am especially touched by a man who is affectionate with his children because you don’t always see that.

    “–nonpareils” — Me too!

    “-trains” — Me too!

    And what a way to conclude this post, with that song by the Beatles. Perfect!

    Thanks so much for sharing, my friend. Sending you much LOVE and HUGS

    ((((((((((((( XXXXX YOU XXXXX )))))))))))

    P.S. And Happy Birthday to your Dad! X

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, friend.

      I love that photo, too! You can really see how much they loved each other. And that cake is from a favorite local bakery—they made our wedding cake and so many special birthday cakes over the years.

      YES to the affectionate-with-kids part! My dad never hesitated to show love to my children, my brother, and me. We were so lucky to have him in our lives.

      Ella and I both love nonpareils, too! And I’ve always loved trains. Whenever we hear a train horn, we say, ‘Hi, Dad!’

      Thank you for reading, dear friend! 😘❤️🌈

      Like

  16. Kari, what a lovely list to commemorate your dad’s birthday! It sounds like he enjoyed his life and his family very much. Orange jellies – he had good taste!

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Great list! Don’t forget sunsets. You could put them in place of that football team! GO BIG BLUE!- ‘The Game’ won’t be the same this year.

    Liked by 1 person

  20. What a beautiful tribute to your dad on his birthday. <3

    I have been thinking about you and your mom all day. Hope you guys are doing OK.

    xoxo

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, my friend. And thank you so much for reaching out to Mom and me yesterday—it truly means the world to both of us. You’ve been such a comfort to us this year. Love you.😘❤️

      Like

  22. This is such an amazing way to honor and remember your Dad on his birthday! I absolutely love this.

    I was hoping I’d see a Buckeyes related picture! And I really enjoyed learning the names of all of his dogs.

    Some of the items that reminded me of my Dad: the color blue, the riding lawnmower (I can’t see a John Deere without thinking of my Dad), and cashews. When we were little and at a mall, my Dad would always stop and get a paper bag of warm cashews at the candy counter of a department store. Not many people remember that those existed. Warm cashews are absolutely delicious! Also – the root beer. My Dad loved going to (I think it was) A&W drive-ins to get their ice cold root beer that was served in a frosted glass mug. SO FREAKING GOOD, but I don’t think they exist anymore either. Sigh . . .

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I loved writing this! It was so much fun to collaborate with my mom on it too. We were driving to IKEA one day, and we had a so much fun bouncing ideas back and forth about Dad and all the things he loved.

      He really loved his Buckeyes. I treasure all the pictures we took over the years of my dad and Mike and their rivalry. Sadly, last November, they didn’t get together to watch the game because my dad had a cold.

      I can’t see a riding mower without thinking of my dad either, friend. He loved his so much—his yard was his pride and joy. Warm cashews! Root beer! Oh man, I really think your dad and mine would’ve been great friends.

      Liked by 1 person

  25. I loved reading this list, with a smile on my face. He loved the simplest things! The pic of the four of you, all smiles, all wearing glasses is a classic! Did you notice the pic of you as a young girl, next to your dad, reading the Hungry Caterpillar? I give that book to every expectant mom I know. 🥰

    I loved going back and reading the Spaghetti and Meatballs Christmas Eve story; this is beautiful. You never know how a tradition will start and I’m sure this one won’t end with your dad.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes, he did, friend!

      Isn’t that photo of us the best? I found it on Instagram a few weeks ago. It wasn’t on my phone, so it felt like finding a hidden gem.

      Oh, I love that you give that book to expectant moms! It was one of my favorites as a child. 🩷

      It definitely won’t end with Dad. ❤️

      Liked by 1 person

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