I wrote this as Dad and I traveled around southern Italy for the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Cassino. It was 1994, making him 76 and me 48. Thirty years ago.
For better or worse it started as a diary and pretty much still is. If you think I was being hard on him I agree, and I’m sure you’ll be as hard on me — I certainly come across as a bit of a smart aleck. But reading it now recalls the trip so vividly that I’ll take what’s coming and let it stand.
Yes, I’ve noticed that I’m older now than Dad was then — and our kids older than I was. Let them know I’m not ready to pass the reins to them just yet. Also that Dad and I always had a combative relationship but I was never closer to him than this.
Mum said to me at the airport, “You know it’s going to be a long two weeks, don’t you?” Dad was starting to show his age at times, and Mum, showing hers rather less, was managing partner in the relationship. The sad irony is that over the next six years she declined a little faster than him, and the roles began to reverse. Our cohort knows these things first hand now. As the tee-shirt says, it’s weird finding yourself the same age as old people. ~ Ian
Contents
1994 — Battle of Cassino reunion
Read the stories in order by clicking NEXT at the bottom of each page, or use these links.
Decompressing
Smoking or non-smoking?
Old friends
Am I a coward if I duck?
Normale! Normale!
The old soldiers were friends too
Shaky old bodies stood to attention
Let Avis worry
The photos were scanned from an album we made at the time. Not very flash — 6×4 prints from a Minolta compact film camera — but they bring back memories.