Mary lou merritt white pages wi12/17/2023 ![]() ![]() They had to “stop” Dad’s heart to resync it’s beat. Just before Christmas 9 months later, Dad was in the hospital for an irregular heartbeat. ![]() We were happy Mom and Dad were able to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. We had a surprise 70th birthday at a football tailgate party for Dad. Almost 10 years after my first marathon, Dad had a mini-stroke while visiting prior to my wedding. He was part of “The Greatest Generation”, and they kept so much inside. Meantime, I had hoped my running would inspire Dad to walk more with Mom. Eight minutes from qualifying for Boston (1980), how could I stop now? I did and Detroit was my 3rd marathon (finished in 2:58). I started to run in college, watched the finish of the Detroit Marathon, and vowed to “try it” in a couple years. As I graduated from high school, I silently vowed “not to become like Dad”. When he came home from work, his falling asleep on the couch we assumed was normal with “a hard day at the office”. He was diagnosed with high blood pressure at age 50, but he didn’t do anything to help himself. I, too, started running because of my father, but not at his prompting. Our father’s lives ended at the same age, 74. ![]() I’m blessed to live within the signal range of eight NPR frequencies representing four member stations in Indiana and Illinois and proud to be a sustaining member of one. His car radio would be tuned to AM 920, the main frequency for Purdue University’s NPR station. One of the greatest gifts my mother’s father has given me is a love for public radio. Your analogy about the crossword puzzle was so helpful. I’ve also gained insight into conversing with my grandfathers, who both live with hearing loss. Now I’m beginning to grasp how bittersweet it is for mothers to let go of the boys that young men used to be. I saw the adorable baby shoes and the muddy soccer cleats on the cover and thought, “I’m a big fan of Mary Louise Kelly, but this book probably isn’t for me.” I was mistaken! My brother and I are thirty-somethings and I think our mother is still trying to navigate how to communicate with sons who think and believe differently than her. ![]()
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