Parents.  When you think about it, we all have them.  Some of us are parents.  It is, without a doubt, the most challenging but potentially rewarding job on earth.  As a parent of a beautiful daughter who will soon turn 26, I can shout a loud “amen” to those observations  . . . and wouldn’t trade them (the challenges or the rewards) for all the money in the world.

What about OUR parents?  Many of us who make up the Baby Boomer Generation have lost or are beginning to face the eventual loss of our parents. We are now realizing that our parents, nor we, are immortal and it’s very sobering to come to that realization.

I have talked to many people who have faced or are about to face the loss of a parent.  Their perspectives are wide ranging.  After a lot of observation, one thing that I’ve come to realize is that many of those people like to talk about their parents and want others to know about their mom and/or dad.

With that as a backdrop, I recently read where rock guitarist, Bruce Kulick, lost his father, Harry, after 91 great years of life.  One morning, while preparing for my day, a thought came to me out of the blue: Maybe Bruce would want to tell the world about his dad?  I wondered what kind of person Mr. Kulick was.  What kind of work did he do?  How did Bruce view his dad, both when he (Bruce) was a kid and in the last years of Mr. Kulick’s life?

The thought wouldn’t go away and, ultimately, a second Boomerocity interview with Bruce was the result. During that phone conversation, I asked Bruce if he would prefer to tell his father’s story and I transcribe (the safest route) or did he want me to ask him questions (potentially risky).  I was surprised that he preferred that I ask him questions. 

As an interviewer, I prefer to make the process a positive one for those interviewed as well as a positive “read” for you, the reader.  I don’t like to open old wounds or prolong one’s grief.  Prior to my call with Bruce, I carefully considered and prepared the type of questions I would ask in the event he preferred to go that route.  I’m glad I was prepared.

I asked Bruce what first comes to mind when he thinks of his dad.

“You know, it’s interesting, there was something that came up at the service where the Rabbi that was there asked my Mom, ‘Why did you fall in love with Harry?’ and her reaction was, ‘He was kind.’ I used to see my parents interact in the typical Seinfeld/Jewish kind of way, with them always fighting and arguing over stupid stuff, just like a sitcom, but they loved each other.  They were there for each other.  Sixty-two years married!