Front Porch Fighter: Dad's Day

Friday, July 11, 2014

Dad's Day

This date, July 11th, has been significant to me in the past. It is my buddy's birthday, it's the anniversary of the day I went into the Air Force and got out of the Air Force and, it is the date my Father passed away.

For those that don't know, we were in Denver visiting my parents when, in the middle of the night, my mom came in the room where we were sleeping and said my dad had fallen out of the bed and she was unable to wake him.

Having seen plenty of dead and dying, when I saw him, I thought he was gone. Of course, I tried resuscitation and the ambulance was not too far away. I asked them if they could transport in hopes that his transition from life to death would not seem so sudden for us, but they called him there.

And now, I remember this day as the day I lost my Father.

Here is his obituary: Hora n Cares

And here is my earlier reactions: When a loved one passes

For those of you that are want to read it, here is the Kadddish, said to remember the Lord's goodness in the face of those that have passed:

Yit'gadal v'yit'kadash sh'mei raba (Cong: Amein).
May His great Name grow exalted and sanctified (`Cong: Amen.)

b'al'ma di v'ra khir'utei
in the world that He created as He willed.

v'yam'likh mal'khutei b'chayeikhon uv'yomeikhon
May He give reign to His kingship in your lifetimes and in your days,

uv'chayei d'khol beit yis'ra'eil
and in the lifetimes of the entire Family of Israel,

Hebrew

ba'agala uviz'man kariv v'im'ru:
swiftly and soon. Now say:

(Mourners and Congregation:)

Amein. Y'hei sh'mei raba m'varakh l'alam ul'al'mei al'maya
(Amen. May His great Name be blessed forever and ever.)

Yit'barakh v'yish'tabach v'yit'pa'ar v'yit'romam v'yit'nasei
Blessed, praised, glorified, exalted, extolled,

v'yit'hadar v'yit'aleh v'yit'halal sh'mei d'kud'sha
mighty, upraised, and lauded be the Name of the Holy One

(Mourners and Congregation:)

B'rikh hu.
Blessed is He.

l'eila min kol bir'khata v'shirata
beyond any blessing and song,

toosh'b'chatah v'nechematah, da'ameeran b'al'mah, v'eemru:
praise and consolation that are uttered in the world. Now say:

(Mourners and Congregation:)

Amein
Amen

Y'hei sh'lama raba min sh'maya
May there be abundant peace from Heaven

v'chayim aleinu v'al kol yis'ra'eil v'im'ru
and life upon us and upon all Israel. Now say:

(Mourners and Congregation:)

Amein
Amen

Oseh shalom bim'romav hu ya'aseh shalom
He Who makes peace in His heights, may He make peace,

aleinu v'al kol Yis'ra'eil v'im'ru
upon us and upon all Israel. Now say:

(Mourners and Congregation:)

Amein
Amen

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What's in a Name?

Since a few have asked, "Why the name, 'Front Porch Fighter' ?", I will take a stab at answering it.

In times past, the predominant feature of most houses was the front porch. It was right out there in front and it used to be a gathering place for people from the neighborhood. Friends could come over and hang out, lovers could swing on the porch swing and moms would entertain with lemonade. The front porch was a place to get to know others and it signified a willingness and a desire to be in community.

The predominant feature on many homes built today is the garage. The garage is a place where you can pull your car in without anyone else having to talk to you or interrupt your schedule as you retreat into your private sanctuary. To me, the garage in front signifies a desire to live my own life and a kind of disconnect from the rest of the world.

While I appreciate some privacy and sanctuary, I feel that all too often, we are disconnected from the rest of the world and have lost a sense of community, which the home styles reflect. So, I am an advocate of the front porch....at least metaphorically speaking.

Hence, the name Front Porch Fighter.