Day 313: Camping with a Crusty Curmudgeon

I’ve been having a ball this week with the fun memes using Bernie Sanders in his warm parka and mittens at the inauguration. When I first saw him walking in, looking around for his seat, I laughed out loud because he looked all the world like another Bernie I knew and loved. My second father-in-law (whom we affectionately referred to as Pop) was, from all appearances, a bit of a schlub. Lacking social graces, definitely rough around the edges…not one ounce of self awareness, Pop had a huge heart of gold and would do absolutely anything for you if you were a hard worker. He loved big and talked loud and stumbled through life with not a lot of fluff. But, oh….we all loved him fiercely and miss him so much.

When I first saw Bernie Sanders at the inauguration, I thought “Oh, my God…it’s just like Pop decided to stop at Joe’s thing before he went to Kings to pick up some milk and eggs and maybe a dented can of something off the sale rack.” What a joy it is to see each creative interpretation of the modern Jewish zaidie, frumpy but warm, practical and uncaring of your critical eye. He embodies the gestalt of Yiddisha Papas. And…these viral memes may have just fixed the internet this week.

I hear Bernie gets a kick out of all the attention these memes are getting. I don’t know if our Pop would have recognized himself in them, but we do…with lots of love. It’s so sad when you lose a beloved family member. And, it’s so wonderful when you get to the point that you can smile and laugh at the memories without so much pain in your heart.

Thank you, Bernie…for being your practical self, for not giving a rip what people thought of your outfit, and for bringing smiles to a lot of people when they think of their own “Pop”…gone, but never forgotten.