Last week I got a scary call from my mother. It wasn’t the usual “We’re loving our sun-filled, condo-living life here in Florida.” Nor was it a barrage of prodding questions regarding what exactly I do all day.
“Something bad happened,” she started in as soon as I answered the phone.
“What?”
“Your father was mugged and beaten.”
“Whaaat?”
“But that was four weeks ago. He’s okay now.”
They waited to tell me, my mom said, because they didn’t want to get me upset. This is nothing new—they’d protect me from a thunderstorm if they could.
When my friends and I went through our clubbing phase and partied until we couldn’t so much as navigate a subway, my dad drove in from Queens at 4 a.m. while all the other parents slept. In college, he drove me through a snowstorm to Massachusetts when my car broke down so I wouldn’t miss a class.
Okay, he’s more than a chauffeur, but you get my point.
The night of the mugging, he dropped my mom off at the ballet. He wasn’t crazy about seeing it himself, so he went a few blocks away and waited for her. While waiting, my dad was approached by two men asking for money. He gave them his change and then they pulled him down to the ground demanding more. He was kicked in the face before two pedestrians chased the robbers away.
This accident was a wake-up call for me. I don’t know why it’s so easy to take the people in our lives for granted, but so many of us do—whether with our parents, partners, or best friends. We become numb to the people around us, and only when they’re gone or hurt do we realize how lucky we were to have them.
Two weeks after our phone call, I flew to Florida for a long-scheduled visit. Usually when I go down to my parents’ place, I go through the motions: daily trips to Costco, early-bird lunches and dinners, pool time after a pastrami feast. I might even get impatient with my folks at times. You know, it’s slow there!
Not this time.
I spent this trip listening, caring, and paying attention to my parents. I valued every moment I had with them. The wake-up call had been received, loud and clear. If you haven’t gotten one in a while, feel free to use mine as your own.
Here’s a fun video I produced with my dad last year called, “Visiting the Folks in Flawrida”.
6 Comments for Wake-Up Call
Jon Silverman | March 8, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Tina | March 8, 2010 at 5:59 pm
Glad your dad is OK! That’s a crazy story. Thanks for the post.
Tina
Stephanie Karp | March 8, 2010 at 11:00 pm
Ilana, my heart breaks for your dad. I am so very sorry this happened to him. I like your dad — i feel like I know him from your videos. What a sweet man who had to endure something. On a positive note, you received the wake up call. We all need one. I wonder how your dad received the call too. Your dad reminds me of my dad very much, down to the driving into the city when all the other parents were sleeping. Recently my dad spent 8 hours in a car waiting for me outside various offices in Manhattan while I got signed and notarized documents for our adoption — he didn’t want me to feel I was doing it alone. I know the love of which you speak about. I also know how parents want to protect their daughters from sad news. My parents waited many weeks to tell me my dog died when I was in college taking finals! Oy. I found out when I got home right before I walked in the house. Shock alert!
Ilana, keep on writing – your stories are from the heart and touch so many. Particular this one for me.
Love,
Steph karp
Laura Richter | March 9, 2010 at 6:09 am
Nice!
Author comment by admin | March 9, 2010 at 8:25 pm
Thank you Stephanie,
It was weird, but my dad seemed more alert and alive as ever when I saw him last week. He even looked better than I’ve seen him too!
Maybe it was a wake-up call for his as well. Wow, that’s sweet of your dad. I’m psyched for you and your adoption! Thanks for the encouragement too here.
So appreciate it. 
Angela | March 11, 2010 at 3:58 pm
Hi Illana ~
Sorry to hear what happened to your dad. I’m glad that he is doing better and recovering nicely. Unfortunately, sometimes a wake up call is needed so that we can be grateful for what we have. Life is too short. Glad to hear that every one is well and enjoying each other’s company! Thanks for the reminder.
Llana,
Sorry to hear about your Dad. A female friend told me of a case where her male friend was stabbed by two pan handlers while pumping gas s they attempted to rob him. He survived but the perpetrators could have taken his life.
The video was cool! Good work and it was funny! Did you have to look hard to find the two odd guys at the pool?
Best wishes and be safe,
Jon
P.S. check out http://www.mace.com