Dad

I started writing this post on November 25, 2021, the day after Dad died. All I had was the title. This is what I want people to know about my dad.

Today (June 24) would have been his 91st birthday. I haven’t decided yet how I would celebrate or honour his birthday. Last night I started planning a trip across Canada with my daughter. Maybe that’s a starting place to keep dad’s memories alive!

Dad was always seeking a new adventure. Don’t get me wrong — stability for our family was important, but he aimed to provide experiences for us. Each summer we did something special. Often it was renting a cabin out at the lake and spending our days exploring the shores and the lake with our canoe, or small motor boat. We learned to water-ski, we caught lots of fish for mom to cook for dinner. We hiked along the rocks. We learned how to use an outhouse while holding our breath for as long as we could. We learned how brave the hungry chipmunks would become if we could stay still long enough for them to venture onto our arms.

One summer we took a camping trip across Canada. Dad bought and prepared a tent trailer, and after months of gathering maps and brochures from every city and town along our way, we set off on our 6 week trip. Dad was determined to make this a memorable trip where we could learn as much as possible about our country.

Dad was a believer in life-long learning, and life-long service to community. After his early retirement (following the death of my brother) dad very quickly became involved in volunteer work. I am sure feeling useful was a large part of how he worked through his grief.

Dad was patient and kind. He was our high-school principal for most of my years in high school. I realized just how kind, patient and respected he really was after he left the high school and we got a new principal.

For years I didn’t speak to my father, or my mother, or really anyone else. I was a very shy and quiet child, content to go unnoticed. Later, when I was in my 30s I started to go to him when I needed help. And then we started travelling together. Every summer for he past 20 years we went on a trip, exploring Canada as well as countries in Asia and Europe, often going on cruises and sometimes just driving. In the past few years during the pandemic it was not convenient to travel far, so we explored Vancouver Island together. His last trip was in September 2021, when he spent several days with me. He was tired from a year and a half of staying home and caring for mom. I was shocked at how much he had slowed down physically, yet he was still sharp mentally and just loved the sight-seeing and meeting new people.

This is only a snapshot of what I want people to know and remember about my dad. Happy Birthday. I wish you were here.