Kate

In one of our last conversations, my father spoke of how the ocean has the power to change a person. Its gentle rolling waves and tranquil beauty calm and inspire, and its familiar rhythm synchronizes the mind, body, and spirit. Dad spent his entire life at the shore, and his days were not complete without a ride on Ocean Avenue. He dreamed of retiring in Florida, and enjoyed surfing with his brother in Belmar. We often took walks together in the sand and runs on the boardwalk, and I enjoyed every minute of being his sidekick. The ocean was a constant force is his life, and he was a constant driving force in the lives of those around him. Ever present and faithful, he was a wonderful husband to my mother and worked hard to provide the best for his family. He was a constant giver, eager to help, eager to please, eager to make the lives of others better. He always scheduled his work around making it to my Tuesday afternoon cross country meets in Holmdel, and would always have bagels and donuts waiting for my family when we woke up on weekends. Everyone loved my dad. He was he kind of guy who you could both joke with and confide in. He had a genuinely good nature and was extremely proud of his family. Even when he became ill, he tried to continue to work from home and provide for us the best he could. He enjoyed running his business, figuring in his notebooks, and looking for new projects around the shore. He shared everything with my mother, and wanted nothing but the best for all of us. The times I’ll miss the most are the simple times spent with my dad. I’ll miss the rides to pick up subs or go to the bank, for they were the times when we’d have fifteen minute conversations about nothing and everything. I’ll miss him calling me just to say hi, and miss him riding along side me on a bike holding a water bottle while I run. I’ll miss listening to Bruce Springsteen in the car and correcting him on the lyrics. I’ll miss wandering around Asbury Park taking pictures and collecting sharks teeth by the Fishing Club pier. I’ll miss his smile when I tell him about my grades, my latest publication, or my new job. I’ll miss July afternoons on 8th Avenue people watching and swimming, and random lunch dates in the middle of the week. Most of all, I’ll miss our beach walks, our swims, and wandering down to the ocean after running. He would often dip his hands in the ocean and say how salt water cures everything. Although, it may never erase the pain of losing my best friend, in time the crashing waves may make smooth the roughness. I’ll always drive down Ocean Avenue to check on the ocean, and each time I see that it’s still there, I’ll know he is too.Layout made by MJdesigns at CreateBlog.com . MJdesignsI scored a 98% on the "how fucking JERSEY are you?" Quizie! What about you?