I’m Not Done With Father’s Day..My Dad and I Celebrated Together but Grandpa Milano Was Not There

I spent Father's Day with my wife, children, Dad, Mom, Father-in-law and my Grandma Milano.I did not get to spend It with my hero and the hero of my entire enormous family.  Peter Milano Sr.  He was a patriot (Korean War), a police officer (Mount Vernon), but most of all he was our dad and grandpa.  He raised 3 generations of Milano's....was an uncle cousin, brother, in law and godfather to the Miggliacio's, Divenuto's, Santoro's Tobacco's, Rocco's, Rossi's and touched so many lives in both Brewster, NY and Mount Vernon NY.

I lived with Grandpa and Grandma when I was young...a child and returned to him as an adult needing help and a place to live.  He never changed, he welcomed me with open arms and made me laugh.

Grandpa always worked weird hours and barely slept so even in retirement he would wake up and cook for us in the middle of the night.

One time when I was living in the basement of his house as an adult where every one of us lived at one point or another I got up to go to the radio station at 4:30am.  I went upstairs to go out through the front door because of the snow and saw him sleeping in his chair...or so I thought.  His eyes were closed but he was very much awake.  He, with closed eyes said:  "You want eggs?"  I was startled but still laughed..."no Grandpa...I don't want eggs I'm late for work."

When I told my dad, aunts and uncles this story they laughed so hard....he used to do that to and for them.  He'd come home from Mount Vernon after chasing morons all night and wake his 6 children to Chinese food in the middle of the night.

I lived with him as he started to fade away from us and I watched him fight passing away.....it was easily the hardest thing I have ever seen but I will forever keep him alive in my thoughts and memories  I spent most of father's day thinking of him and while I pray for his soul I know I don't need to.  There will never be a man that could match his character and love for his family..so maybe I should pray for the strength to do what he did for us.

Happy Father's day Grandpa...I will always be waiting for you on the floor in the living room on the green pillow so you can rock me to sleep.