100 years ago today, on April 2, 1909 my father, William F. Gutwein, Jr., was born. Yes, he was an older than usual age when I was born. I’m not *that* old. 🙂

He died in 1996 after what can be described as a very full life. He marveled at how he saw both the birth and death of the Soviet Union.

My mother died six years earlier. I miss them both. I miss having an extended relationship with them as an adult. We had that for a time, but it was all too brief. In many ways, since my parents were older when I was born, I grew up at an accelerated pace. I can’t remember where I heard it, but there is a saying that one does not truly become an adult until both your parents have died. I don’t think that is literally true, but I see the wisdom contained within it. I would not be who I am today if I had been raised by younger parents.

I’ll probably tell a few stories about him to some friends tonight at ToT in the ‘Ville. And in his honor I’ll eat some oysters & drink some cheap beer today. This weekend I’ll make a recipe or two of his. I am grateful for his love and more than content with the man I’ve become and the life I live. I hope he would be. I think so.