I am a 42 year old man who, like Sheldon, is on the autistic spectrum. I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome when I was 3.
Like Sheldon, my father and I had very different interests. In a twist of irony, my interests are more in line with those of George. I enjoy baseball and football. I like a good beer and some bbq. My father, on the other hand, was an aerospace and aeronautics engineer. He had a brilliant academic mind, and, much like George, despite having differing interests from mine, did his best to be supportive and loving towards me, even though there were times he really wasn't sure how to handle his oddball of a son.
My father also passed away of a sudden heart attack. He passed at the age of 60 in 2011. And, much like George, he passed away while not with his family. My father had his heart attack while hiking in Thailand. I was the last person in the family to see him. I dropped him off at the airport, and the last thing he said to me was "Take care of your mom. She loves you." I found it a little weird because when I would take him to the airport if he had a business trip, he usually would say "Be good for your mom", even after I graduated high school and had a job. I guess it was part of being a dad. Maybe on a weird level, he knew something was up.
Throughout this episode, I found myself in tears many times. I could relate to Sheldon in so many ways. He misses his father. He wishes he could've had one more moment with him. And he's also remembering all the times he shared with his father, despite their differences. I cried when they flashed back to when George helped Sheldon cope with his fear of flying. It reminded me of when my dad helped me cope with my anxiety before baseball tryouts when I was 12.
When they showed Sheldon get up and give a very heartwarming speech about his father, it reminded me of the eulogy I gave at my father's funeral. At first, I was disappointed when they revealed that Sheldon only now wishes that's what he said. But, I remind myself that he is 14, whereas I was 29 when my father passed.
All in all, this was a wonderful episode for a thoroughly enjoyable series. And it especially hits home for anyone who lost a loved one. It made me reflect on my relationships in my life, and gave a wonderful reminder of how life is fleeting and we need to savor our relationships with those that we love.
Bravo to the entire cast and crew for a job well done.
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