Today would have been my father’s 88th birthday, if he hadn’t died last March. I’m making a chocolate cake in his honor. Actually, my son and I are doing it together. And while my dad was a fan of all desserts, I think I remember my mom making his mom’s Devil’s Food Cake for his birthday more than any other type of cake.

We went to the zoo this morning. It was the first time in a very long time. We got to see Penzi, the new baby elephant. She seemed to be having lots of fun playing with sticks.

I’ve heard a neighborhood owl the last two mornings and in my dream state upon rising, I knew that they were greetings from my father.

While I still have yet to dream of him since his death, I’ve felt his presence around the last couple of mornings. As the coffee burbled and the sun rose. We used to chat and do things together in the early morning before my mom and brother got up. Today it was my son and I getting up and out early.