Today is/was my Dad's birthday. I watched him slowly fade away over a time period of 9 months. He grew thinner and more frail week by week. I lived about a 4 hour drive away from him at the time, and drove every 2 weeks to visit him. It is painful to watch someone slip away and feel helpless to do anything about it, but it did help me with the grieving process by having time to deal emotionally with his passing. When a person passes suddenly, it is much harder.
My best memories of him include being outdoors most of the time. We lived near the beach and went swimming and boating every summer. We also went camping as much as possible, which was a lot! By the time I came along, Dad had 6 weeks of vacation every year and he took us travelling via camping all across North America. He taught me how to skate on the Little Lake at the back of our property. In fact, he taught me most things! He taught me how to ride a bike, how to play basketball or any game for that matter, how to distinguish between plants that were healthful and poisonous, how to drive the boat, how to swim, how to look out for “bad” boys when I became a gangly pre-teen, how to maintain my car, how to treat people properly with respect, how to always keep your word because that is all you have in this world, your reputation, and many, many more things that will probably come to mind as the day progresses.
Once upon a time, he used to play the violin, and my very special memories include him playing a little tune on a very old instrument and me singing along. When I was about 5 years old or younger, he would coax me to sing into the recording device that he enjoyed so much and then he would play it back for me to hear what I sounded like. Even when we went camping, he would encourage me to go up onto the stage at the outdoor theatres and sing a little song. I specifically remember singing, “Lollipop”. Then there were the times when he drove me to church every week so that I could sing in the choir and take my religious classes, which I loved to do, but which the rest of my family didn't. He only gave me “a talking to” when it was really needed to put me back on the straight and narrow path.
So, today I would have been celebrating your life here on Earth with you, Dad, but instead I am celebrating your life in memorial. Have a great day, Dad! I love you and miss you!
Take care,
Your daughter,
Cynthia