My Funny Dad, Harry [Paperback]

Karen Arlettaz Zemek (Author)

Book Description

Filled With Emotions

The short funny stories in this book about my dad, his family, his cats and the strange things he did are all true. Many of us deal with aging parents so can relate to a lot of things in this book. You will smile, chuckle and may even laugh out loud but also will find parts very touching that may bring a tear to your eye. Get ready for a quick, easy, emotional read and learn to cherish the people in your day-to-day life.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

I never expected to be an author, but when my dad died, I realized what a wonderful, amazing man he was and wanted to share about him with the world.  I had a wonderful childhood and thought that people would enjoy an uplifting book for a change that would be different from all the ones out there about sad, terrible childhoods.  Since I had kept journals for years, I felt writing this book was something God had prepared me to do.

As my dad aged he was determined to remain independent and I became his primary caregiver.  I share about the funny things he did, his cats, how our relationship grew and developed and how God helped me through the tough months following his death.  Aging parents will identify with my dad and those who have elderly parents I'm sure will identify with me.  Hopefully, by reading this book you will learn what a good father is, find comfort in knowing you are not alone in dealing with the elderly, and trust God as I did to help you through.

Some of the things will make you smile and maybe even chuckle or laugh but there are also very touching parts too.  It is about or normal, ordinary every day life that shows our love for one another as well as the frustrations of growing old.

About the Author

Karen Arlettaz Zemek, an animal lover, grew up with two foster sisters and a foster brother. I graduated from Dyke College in downtown Cleveland with a B.S. degree in secretarial administration in 1975 and attended Malone College in Canton and Baldwin Wallace where she received her teaching certificate for secondary education. Following my substitute teaching adventure, I settled into a calmer job as a secretary in a law firm where I have been employed over 20 years. I married late in life and live with two nice cats and a dog who also blog.

In my spare time I enjoy blogging, sports, reading, playing games on pogo.com and participating in social networking such as Facebook, Twitter and Shelfari. I faithfully contribute to many non-profit organizations and have received great joy from serving the Lord as a Sunday School teacher, youth group director, AWANA Club Commander, Vacation Bible School volunteer, camp counselor and puppeteer. One of my favorite places to go is the Cleveland Zoo. I look forward to retirement when I can volunteer at an animal shelter and the zoo.

You can visit my book blog at ourstack.blogspot.com, my personal blog at zemeks.blogspot.com and my blog about my dad and me at karenzemek.blogspot.com

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Outskirts Press (October 5, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1432714171
• ISBN-13: 978-1432714178
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,747,293 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Karen Arlettaz Zemek, an animal lover, grew up with two foster sisters and a foster brother. I graduated from Dyke College in downtown Cleveland with a B.S. degree in secretarial administration in 1975 and attended Malone College in Canton and Baldwin Wallace where she received her teaching certificate for secondary education. Following my substitute teaching adventure, I settled into a calmer job as a secretary in a law firm where I have been employed over 20 years. I married late in life and live with two nice cats and a dog who also blog.

In my spare time I enjoy blogging, sports, reading, playing games on pogo.com and participating in social networking such as Facebook, Twitter and Shelfari. I faithfully contribute to many non-profit organizations and have received great joy from serving the Lord as a Sunday School teacher, youth group director, AWANA Club Commander, Vacation Bible School volunteer, camp counselor and puppeteer. One of my favorite places to go is the Cleveland Zoo. I look forward to retirement when I can volunteer at an animal shelter and the zoo.

You can visit my book blog at www.ourstack.blogspot.com, my personal blog at www.zemeks.blogspot.com and my blog about my dad and me at www.karenzemek.blogspot.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Funny Dad, Harry is a Book Well Worth Reading!, April 22, 2008

By 

Toni Merleno (Oberlin, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My Funny Dad, Harry (Paperback)

I have a special reason for reviewing this book, as I'm in it! I grew up with Karen, Michelle, Pam, and Johnny during our junior high and teen years as we attended the same church in Cleveland, and consequently we were in the same youth groups for socials and get-togethers. I think Karen captured her father very well in her book. He was highly intelligent and well skilled with his hands as he built his projects in his wood shop. I didn't realize he was so fond of cats, though. It wasn't until I read the book that I remembered that trip out to Beulah Beach when Harry refused to stay because he couldn't find a parking spot! I remembered how embarrassed Karen and her mother were because Harry refused to park on any cottage lawn (Although many other cars did just that!).

This book also really touched my heart as I read of Karen's account of her dad's life decline and refusal to yield to assisted living, or to have Karen help him more. The fall that broke Harry's hip had me wincing as it must have been so painful, and yet he refused to allow his son-in-law to call for help. My own mother is now living in a nursing home with Alzheimer's Disease, and my father who is in his early 80's is a lot like Harry--doesn't want to have any extra help and insists on doing things his way. It helps to read of others who are experiencing similar situations to yours.

I would recommend this book for everyone to see that growing old doesn't have to be the end of one's usefulness or creativity. Harry Arlettaz certainly proved that with all of his inventiveness. He was a loving father and husband, and he loved his God right to the end of his life. I have no doubt that Harry was glad to die in his own home, since that is where he chose to stay. It's also a tribute to Karen as the loving, dedicated daughter she is. She had a huge task to dispose of her father's collection of stuff and sell his house after his death, and she did it with the same dedication and inventiveness (learning how to sell on E-Bay) that no doubt she inherited from her father.

My hope is that writing this book has given Karen some comfort as well as enjoyment as she assembled all of the good--and funny--memories of life with her beloved Dad. Thank you, Karen!--Toni Merleno

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Whose Dad is this?, January 15, 2008

By 

Yvonne Perry "Author of Whose Stuff Is This? ... (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: My Funny Dad, Harry (Paperback)

I had flashbacks of my grandfather when reading Karen's book about her father. Those idiosyncrasies that characterize a man raised in the early 1900s reminded me of the fun times I had with my grandfather. He was such a quiet person. One never knew what he was thinking. I decided after reading My Funny Dad, Harry that I am not supposed to understand all the crazy things he did; I only need to accept them as part of who he was. I envision Harry and my grandfather somewhere in the afterlife having a conversation about the good old days.

Busy with his hands, ever creating something from whatever material was available, seems to be Harry's way of passing time. Whether in the woodworking shop, or trying his hand at being a locksmith, Harry always managed to provide a descent living for his family. His family included foster children that were raised alongside his own children. He was so unconcerned about what others thought of him, he didn't even wear a tuxedo to his own daughter's wedding. Well, that's just the way Harry was.

Harry was always busy, so it was no surprise that he had to have his hands into the derby race when his daughter participated in AWANAs. And, the man loved cats. This was way before anyone thought of having pets spayed or neutered so there were always plenty of furry critters hanging around the house or maybe I should say the kitty condo he made for them. Did I say the man loved cats?

The book has humor aplenty, but there is also a sad side of the story when Karen's mom, Harry's wife, Lenore became sick. But, this was just another chance for Harry to come to the rescue and show his love for his family. He would not allow his beloved wife to be admitted to a nursing home. He personally took on the daily care for her and did not once leave her alone. He made sure someone was with her if he had matters outside the home to tend to. After a stay in the hospital Lenore finally passed on. A few months later, Harry, never admitting his loneliness, fell and broke his hip. After three weeks in the hospital he made an amazing recovery. You have to wonder if perhaps it was his concern for all those cats living alone at his house that sprang him to life again. During his recovery, he came up with a new way to do the things he used to do including weeding with a mechanism he created that didn't force him to bend over. Such an inventor, that Harry!

Harry had a system of organization that would not be matched even by those popular design shows you see on TV where a "professional" organizer comes in and puts an end to clutter. Harry saved everything and everything had a place. He even "dated' his food. I bet you never heard of a man doing that! When remembering birthdays, he even put the person's year of birth on the calendar. Probably just wanted to see how old they were.

At age 88 after living a full and loving life, Harry joined his wife in heaven. Karen was the one who found him lying between the toilet and the tub in his bathroom. She made sure he was buried in his brand new underwear she found neatly arranged in his dresser drawer. The package still unopened. I felt for her. I wanted to cry, but I knew that Karen was a strong person. Not that she wouldn't grieve for her dear dad, but that she had a handle on life and a faith that would keep her chin up through the sale of her dad's house.

I liked the photos Karen included in her book. I've met all the kitties and in case I need more information about any one of them, I could resort to Appendix B in the back of the book. . I cracked up when I saw the picture of Harry's oven. He was not much of a cook, but having good organizing skills, he made good use of the space as extra storage for small appliances!

Now, you might imagine that a book about someone else's dad might be boring, but the thing I liked best about the book was that it made me remember the good times I had with my own quirky male relatives. Zemek used a chronological method to arrange her material. That was certainly a sensible approach. After all it was a biography about her father's life.

If you want to laugh and cry, this is the book for you. While it is light-hearted, there is a great deal of stronger emotions present as Karen pays tribute to her father. She says it helped her process her own grief. I can see why it would have that benefit for her.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It is a wonderful life!, January 15, 2008

By 

Marilyn Lawson "Marilyn Lawson" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My Funny Dad, Harry (Paperback)

My Funny Dad, Harry was a fun easy read. It reminds you of your parents and grandparents and the "funny" things that they do. We don't see the logic behind their behavior (but they always have a reason, that makes sense to them). This story reminded me of the movie It's a Wonderful Life. I believe the author, in reminiscing of her Dad, has shown how one life touches so many other lives, (and in Harry's case, not only people!) What a beautiful write to memorialize Harry and a balm for healing the loss of Dad. Enjoyable for all who have dealt, or are dealing with an aging parent or grandparent, and to caregivers and cat lovers everywhere! It is a wonderful life, thanks for sharing Harry!