Today, August 3, 2024, would have been my father’s 100th birthday. He was born August 3, 1924. Dad died on November 3, 2011 at the age of 88, and I have missed him just about every day since then. It seems that he and my mother have been visiting me in my dreams more and more frequently. I don’t know if it’s because I’m now at an age that he was when I interacted with him when I became an adult, or if there’s some other space-time continuum thing going on. Regardless, they have both been popping up to say hello.
In most of these dreams Dad has bought some enormous house and we are exploring it. It needs lots of renovation, and there are secret, hidden chambers throughout. In other dreams, we’re traveling somewhere, but never quite seem to be able to get there. It’s weird how these themes play out repeatedly, but with variations, as if each is real within its own multiverse.
I have a somewhat skewed since of history because of my father and grandfather. Dad was the youngest son of his father, and there were 7 in his family. I am the youngest son of my family, and there were 7 in mine. That means that the generations were spread out farther than usual. My grandfather was born in 1880. My dad was born in 1924, when my grandfather was 44 years old.
My dad has commented on the changes that he had seen over his lifetime, probably more changes than in any previous generation. He was born into a world of farming, with animals and trains providing most of the transportation and farm work. Automobiles were very basic and air travel was in its infancy. There were no telephones or televisions. By the end of his life we had been to the moon and were in the information age with instantaneous communications anywhere in the world. During that time he had survived the Great Depression, a stint in the US Navy during WWII, and the subsequent wars that took his students off to foreign lands. Some, never to return.
I keep wondering how my parents would feel about today’s events. Dad loved technology, but didn’t really understand it. He just did make it to the internet age, but I worried about him falling prey to scammers and malware. He passed away before smart phones really took off, and smart homes with assistants were still over the horizon. I think he would have loved Alexa, Siri, and all of the portable technology. Having a smart assistant like an Apple watch with Siri would have blown his mind, as well as my mom’s.
I would be very interested on his take of the current political climate, especially the Cult of Trump. My dad was extremely conservative, but also pragmatic. Would he support a felon if it furthered his agenda, or would he be able to see through the lies of the narcissist? That’s a hard call. I’d like to think he would see reason. As curious as I am to know what his thoughts would be, at the same time, I’m kind of glad that’s one conversation I don’t have to have with him, as much as I miss him.
Regardless, Happy 100th Birthday, Dad! Wish you were still around to celebrate, but I’m glad that at least you still come to visit in dreams.
Happy Heavenly birthday to your dad.
Reading your post reminded me so much of my dad. He would have been 103 this past April. He grew up in Greenwood, SC, the 14th child of 16. In his memoirs he included everything that you talked about. After his dad lost his cotton farm in the early 1920s, the family moved to Greenwood and everyone went to work at the cotton mill. Yes, I often wonder what he would think about the world of today.
Enjoy your visits with your mom and dad in your dreams.