1115.org

We don’t ordinarily treat 1115.org as a personal website, but some events warrant an exception.

On Friday December 9th, Jamie and I lost our father, better known to 1115.org readers as disgruntled Republican Cohen Sr. Though he wasn’t an internet user and never laid eyes on this site, he is as responsible for its existence as anyone. A former history and civics teacher, he constantly taught me about the political process, and most importantly the rights and responsibilities of American citizens to question their leaders and uphold the vision of the founding fathers. It is that emphasis that drives me as I sit down to write every day. I already miss him more than I can comprehend.

I am completely unable to organize my thoughts and feelings into something comprehensive, and I’m not sure I would if I could. Those of you who knew him will know how great a loss this really is, but for those who didn’t, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ran an obituary on Monday that nicely summed up his career.

And Jamie wrote the following poem in 1993 about the night before she left for college. It can be found on her site:

saying good night to daddy

We talked of walls that night
in hushed voices that filled the dark room.
You mixed praise with advice,
concern with reprimand,
you always do.

But we kept coming back to walls.
You apologized for the ones you had built.
“Good walls make good neighbors,” I had quipped.
I couldn’t see your face but felt it fall.
“We’re not neighbors, we’re family.”
“Good walls make good family?”
“In New England,” you said,
and I remembered family vacations of years past.
You drove hours through autumn and never let Mom help.
Matthew and I read maps
“Are we there yet?” was not acceptable.

When we arrived at country inns
where children weren’t allowed
you had them make exceptions.
Were we ever children in your mind?
“In New England,” you said, “they built their walls without mortar.”
You faltered, you rarely do.
“They know if wind cannot blow through
the walls will never survive the storm.
I never used mortar,” you said and kissed my head.

—————

Memorial contributions can be made to Habitat for Humanity, 121 Habitat St., Americus, Ga. 31709-3498.

**Jamie and I would like to remind everyone that Advanced Care Directives can and do make life much easier for families already dealing with tough situations. Forms are available online from a variety of sources.