Category: Abby

When did you meet Mickey?
2004

Where did you meet him?
Through Abby

Memory of Mickey
Mickey. How do I describe the round about way that I met him and got to know him. Abby and I met on Tribe what seems like a lifetime ago, but was around 2003. She was always pretty candid (shocking right 😛 ) about her life and shared a lot about her family with some of us. So, before I met Mickey I knew of “Abby’s Dad”. Advice, musings, etc. were shared through Abby. Abby’s Dad. But then he started a blog and he shifted to Abby’s Dad Mickey, and he was not the boring old man his blog advertised him to be. His advise, musings, etc. became a direct voice into my own head and his view of the world was a perspective that was interesting and insightful. It was like having a family friend sit on the porch and tell you stuff that was actually useful and interesting. Abby would still share the back story (and the amazing stories of Sharon, as well) and so he was still partially Abby’s Dad, but he was also very much Mickey-the not so boring old man.

When did you meet Mickey?
2012

Where did you meet him?
Abby’s Place

Memory of Mickey
I only met Mickey two or three times when he was in town to visit Abby, but I heard a lot about him from her. From my experience, he was somewhat quiet, though I heard he was often outspoken. He was generous; I think he picked up the check for the whole table. It was clear that, while being his daughter was at times difficult, Abby really admired, respected, and loved him.

“I was sitting there, reading my bible…”

When did you meet Mickey?
1989

Where did you meet him?
Atlanta, through Abby

Memory of Mickey
Let me preface this by saying I wish I had been able to spend more time with Dr. Nardo. I only met him on a few occasions spanning many years, and always when visiting with my dear friend Abby.

My first impression upon entering the Nardo’s wonderful Morningsde home was that of warmth, intelligence, and perhaps a bit of organized chaos. Dr. Nardo (I never really referred to him as ‘Mickey’) was probably sitting amongst stacks of books and papers, effortlessly smart and cool. He may have made me a bit nervous initially, as I can be amongst highly accomplished and brilliant people. I remember thinking that the old adage that messy people are usually very intelligent DEFINITELY applied in this case. (Abby, I think your bedroom was also fair game!). Despite the initial formalities, Abby and I either would hang out in her room chatting (plotting?) about the typical young life crises (boys, college, career choices, etc.) or depart for another venue to make the most of Abby’s brief visits to Atlanta. I regret I didn’t have more opportunities to linger at the house with Abby and her folks. I like to imagine the four of around a table, like the “salons” of old, discoursing about science, the arts, politics, and who knows what else. I’m sure Dr. Nardo would have routinely stumped me with his profound insights and inquiries but then again, I’ve always liked being in the company of people who are smarter and wittier than I am.

I thank Dr. Nardo and Sharon deeply for meshing their best qualities into Abby, a friend for life. We both grew up valuing family, education, self-reliance, questing for knowledge scientific or otherwise, and holding our love of music closest to our hearts. Dr. Nardo’s accomplishments as a scientist, medical provider, and general observer of life are indeed preserved on paper, but his finest contributions live on forever in his family and friends.

When did you meet Mickey?
2008

Where did you meet him?
At My House

Memory of Mickey
Abby brought Mickey and Sharon to a gathering at my house. I am not sure if it was a cookout, or a Flag Day party, or if we had just invited them to come and spend an afternoon out on our deck talking and eating food. I knew Mickey would be drinking copious amounts of coffee and wanted to be prepared. I asked Abby how he took his coffee and she said he liked the pink sweetener. We had none in the house, so I sent JD on a special trip to the store to get some Sweet N Low.

I don’t remember anything else specific about that first meeting, but my best memories of meeting Mickey and spending time with him are always outside, on someone’s deck or just in the backyard, gathered with lots of people. Mickey would just be smiling, talking, listening, raconteur-ing, and generally making a big, genial circle around himself, no matter the occasion.

My heart goes out to all who knew and loved him, especially Abby and Sharon. He was a truly remarkable person, and anyone whose life he touched was the better for it.

When did you meet Mickey?
2005

Where did you meet him?
I met Mickey in North Carolina after I became friends with Abby

Memory of Mickey
My story about Mickey isn’t about Mickey exactly. It’s how I first came to know Mickey. Listening to Abby talk about her dad. Abby’s love and respect for her father was clear through the stories and proud moments she shared about her father’s passions and life. That says a lot about the kind of man he was.

When did you meet Mickey?
2004

Where did you meet him?
I knew him through Abby.

Memory of Mickey
There was a time when Abby was at Indiana University working on her doctorate. She was temporarily staying at my house. She was going through a challenging time. During this time, as I got to know Abby better, I also got to know about her parents and eventually also got introduced to them face to face.

During this time, Abby was writing down all the wise things her dad would say to her in conversation. She would often recant these wise insights with me and my children. It was wonderful to not only experience his engagement with her life and how close they were, but also to hear his perspectives. Wise. Centered. Thoughtful.

One day, I was experiencing a weird thing – blood was coming out of my ear. Gruesome , I know. Abby mentioned this to her dad. he had some concerns about it. She put him on the phone with me. This was the first time I had actually heard his voice. He was very helpful in terms of the immediate ear problem, but what really stayed with me was how powerful it was to hear the actual voice of the person whose “sayings” and “writings” and “insight” I was coming to love.

His voice harbored a resonance in my ear that was at once powerful and inviting.

I did not get to know Mickey except through Abby and very episodic moments during that brief time, but it was enough to respect him and appreciate that our paths crossed.

When did you meet Mickey?
2012

Where did you meet him?
He’s Abby’s dad

Memory of Mickey
Mostly he’s my dear friend Abby’s daddy. Without him, Abby wouldn’t be who she is. And I really like how she is. Aside from that, we bonded over coloring. I love to color and do it pretty much every day. On various holidays, I liked to bring a stash (albeit only a small part of my overall stash) to Abby’s to sit on the porch and color with Mickey, and whoever else was around, enjoy a coffee and conversation. He was much more vibrant with his use of color than I am – he liked the neons. Regardless, I love that this man of science validated that coloring was a good thing. I intend to do more coloring on Abby’s porch, and when we do, we’re going to raise our coffee cups and think of Mickey.