Father's Day

So it has been a couple of days.  Relaxing and visiting family has been a priority.  On Sunday we had a few guests over for lunch.  One being my Dad's childhood friend, Richard Ferry.  As my Dad always said, "they have been friends since the days in the sandbox."  When my dad was diagnosed with multiple myeloma (a form of cancer) in 2008, we were all crushed by the news.  The doctor said he had about 1-2 years.  When Richard found out, he made it his mission to see my dad as often as possible.   At the time, both my Dad and Richard were 77 years old.  Richard lives in Florida and is a CEO of a pharmaceutical company that makes perfumes, sunscreens and Chapstick type products.  He is very busy. At the same time, Richard's wife was very ill. She passed in late fall of 2008.
He came out to California seven times over the year and a half span that my dad was ill. We saw the true friendship between my dad and Richard and heard many amazing stories of childhood in Boston.  Stories we had never heard before and will always remember thanks to Richard.
Since my father's passing in June of 2010 we have all stayed in touch with Richard and even have gotten to know his family who all live in New England.  Some in New Hampshire and some on Martha's Vineyard.  We have been taken in like we have known each other our whole lives.  That is because Richard has talked about his friend, Don, his entire lifetime.  The Ferry family know so much about my Dad, it is like they all knew him.  We are grateful for the love.
Richard continues to run his company in Florida at 84 years young and has even taken up marathon running! He was in Boston this past weekend and offered to drive to Rye to see us. We had a lovely visit.
On Father's Day.