Half and Half...or Both!

I had been meaning to write this post for the longest time, but I guess 20 minutes before bed time is when it comes to fruition. The whole birthday brouhaha made me think really hard about something special I could do for my dad. It's hard to shop for him at this point. I've given him all the ties and tshirts and pencil holders. He appreciates everything I give him, but it's difficult to come up with an original idea when you both like the same things and have bought the same desk chockies and framed prints. For a while, I was into crafty things created with love (and some glazing mistakes) at the pottery studio. I have not been "potting," so no supplies there. Then it dawned on me that I could write something for him. It would be one of a kind. And the man who still keeps my first letter written at age six would surely appreciate Web publishing.

As I tried to think of a suitable topic, I realized the whole blog and the purpose behind it was a tribute to him. My brother and I were raised in a secular, multi-lingual and multi-cultural household. My dad spoke Greek with his mom, French and Turkish with his dad. My mom spoke in Ladino with her parents. They spoke Turkish to us and affirmed that we were from Turkey and belonged to that country, were part of its history. My dad would sort through this mish mash of cultures whizzing in the background by relentleslly iterating the importance of friendship, humanity and equality. He was sensitive towards differences. He would notice when a classmate, politician, journalist or even a friend would say something thoughtless. He would disapprove immediately, make a public remark and set the bar for us.

He was Greek Istanbuli with his mother, Jewish Istanbuli with his dad and to us kids that was normal. He was not half and half as some might say. He was both. He heard and understood more than others, he identified with more and he knew about more. That was his richness. That's what he taught us. That has been his gift to us all along.