29 Comments
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Mike Rengel's avatar

What a beautiful piece of writing about a pretty amazing sounding man. Cheers to your dad, and here’s to the next two bits!

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Michael's avatar

Here’s to the next quarter!

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Jake Lampert's avatar

My Dad smoked Pall Malls nonstop until he was almost 40. Died at 66 and today (August 10) he would have turned 74. This one really hit home, Will!

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Lee's avatar

My Nan is 93 and still living an independent life in her own place (although Dad gives her a daily, what my Nan calls ‘checking I’m alive’ calls) she gets some support from the Govt, cleaner and gardener that kind of thing but the weird thing is, back in the 80s when I was a little kid Nanna was famous for her terrible memory and getting flustered, sometimes if trying to yell out too (or at) us kids she’d go through every name in the family, including Dogs before alighting on our actual name. If anyone on earth you’d think was an Alzheimers candidate it was her but amazingly she just seems to have got stuck at the level for 40 years, it’s very strange

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L Thorin's avatar

My parents are the same age. This made me tear up over my breakfast today. Beautiful.

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Ben Johnson's avatar

Beautifully written with great wisdom- makes me feel better about nearing 50!

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Kent Anderson's avatar

Your dad reminds me of my grandfather. Thank you, Will, from someone who'll be 75 in nine years. Hopefully.

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Leonor's avatar

Will Leitch. Stop making me feel all these feelings! What a lovely tribute.

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Tony's avatar

Such a great article! Thank you for sharing. Enjoy your time with your father (and mother). My Dad passed away earlier this year at the age of 93. He was a good man and lived a good and full life. I enjoyed spending time with him in his later years and helping care for him in recent years. Treasure the time you have with him.

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Will Leitch's avatar

Thank you ... and I'm so glad you got that time with your father ...

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Rob Barnes's avatar

Simply wonderful, Will. You are so fortunate!

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Michael Werner's avatar

Will. Haven’t been around a bit. Do you have a new novel coming soon? Love your work. Thanks.

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Will Leitch's avatar

I do, coming out next May! (Unless you missed THE TIME HAS COME, which is already out!)

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Michael Werner's avatar

Thanks. Yup, enjoyed TIME.

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Eric McErlain's avatar

Always happy to see Reddy Kilowatt. The electric utilities need to bring him back.

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Will Leitch's avatar

I am the very proud owner of several Reddy Kilowatt T-shirts.

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Eric McErlain's avatar

I’ve got a lapel pin somewhere.

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Jason Burk's avatar

Thanks for the perspective on the three quarters. Being 48 is making me worry about what the last quarter of my life will contain - but it sounds wonderful the way you laid it out.

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Tori's avatar

You’re his spitting image. Wishing him good health and good times for all of you.

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Will Leitch's avatar

No, he looks like ME!

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Sidney Eley's avatar

You look just like our Dad. Always love reading your stuff.

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Lee's avatar

The Good Shepherd is sadly very underrated, I just love that movie but rarely have I mentioned to someone who even know it exists

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Will Leitch's avatar

It's good! I like it more than Grierson does, if memory serves.

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