Dear Papa (On Your 106th Birthday)

Dear Papa...you would been 106 today. The world has gotten a lot dumber since you left it and we could all use more of your temperament and your optimism. The Mets still suck but I’m rooting for them now...so there’s that. The Yankees just blew it. I think of you whenever I make fish sticks for the kids, or play golf (I still use your putter with your return address sticker on it), or when I’m playing baseball and throw my glove in the air at a ball hit over my head like you used to do, or when I am about to say or do something mean or petty and stop myself because you weren’t capable of that. Miss you and I love you.