Observations on quality time with my 84 year old father, day – 5

• Unexpectedly I lost somewhere between 5 and 10 pounds in the 28 days I was staying with my dad. I say unexpectedly because during that time, I drank like a fish, did almost no exercise and often ate pizza or Korean buns. For almost a year I had been on the Fast Diet (2 days a week of 600 calories max), but plateaued a few months back. In LA, I occasionally did a “fast” day but never twice in a week. How did I lose weight? Was it stress? Was I just too busy to eat sometimes? Was it because one parent died or because I was stressed by the survivor? I don’t think I had a tape worm. I recall that when my paternal Grandfather died in the mid-1980’s, I began a successful diet. It was one of those situations where I was just too busy to eat and went with it. Whatever it was, I don’t think it’s marketable. What do you call it? The “Diet of the Dead”? That’s beyond gallows humor.

• I’ve yet to change the contact name for my dad’s phone number. Every time he calls, it either says “Mom and Pop” or my mother’s name. At the moment the call comes in, I feel like the Long Island Medium. Then I just feel lousy, both because I know she can’t call me and it’s a call from him. Today he called three times. I was in meetings the first two and answered the third. He called to ask me to explain what the probate attorney said. Afterwards he said he didn’t think he should do it. Zelig knows better.

• My dad once asked if any of my bands played music like this. I said “no”. I think he lost faith in my musical abilities at that point. Should have listened to him:

© Curt Weiss 2014