Before 2011 Slips Away

I didn't want 2011 to slip away without mentioning this; what was, to me, the best album of the year.

Maybe it's because it's a sad, wistful story. Maybe not. I think not. I just think that the music is great. The sad, wistful part probably only has meaning to those of us who have watched our loved ones go away, no thanks to Alzheimer's Disease.

I took a nap today, and had a dream....a dream about my dad. I started walking into a room that had some type of reception going on. A wedding reception maybe. People were milling about. There was a lot of back-slapping, good to see ya, interaction. I wasn't part of the gathering; I just needed to make my way through that room to get to where I needed to go.

As I walked past the multitude of people, I saw a guy with jet black hair, starched white short-sleeved dress shirt, having a jovial conversation with another man. I stopped and thought, that looks like my dad!

I tapped him on the shoulder, and he turned, with a look of pure love, and I threw my arms around him, and kept repeating, "My daddy's back; my daddy's back!" And he hugged me so hard. And I hugged him just as hard back.

And then I woke up.



This album didn't make anybody's list of the top albums of the year. Well, except mine. And really, I don't care about anyone else's list.

It's a snowy night in Minnesota. And I hugged my dad today.

I think that's a pretty good way to end the year.