Monday, March 18, 2013

SOL # 18 - March 18th



Today is day 18 of the Slice of Life March, the writing challenge sponsored and run by Stacey and Ruth of "Two Writing Teachers".

Today is March 18th  and my Dad's birthday. If  he had still been alive he would have been 90 today!  Yet he has been gone for 41 years.

My Dad was born in Scotland but grew up in Winnipeg. He ended up joining the navy at 17 because he wanted to see the world. He got as far as Halifax and was on several destroyers there. The only story I heard him talk about was the time a German sub surrendered. He had a large photo of the surrender document as well as photos of his ships.



He married during the war - to my older brother's mother. She would die of Hodgekin's  disease when my brother was 2.

 My dad obtained his degree in business with honours through the veterans department and then went on to a long career with the bank.

When my brother was 5, he married my Mom and I was born a year later. Two more sons and another daughter were born in the years to follow.


We moved from Winnipeg, to Montreal and then to Toronto.
 My Dad moved up the ladder in the bank , became a manger and then head of a division. He was well respected even though he could not tolerate fools. He was never a yes-man.

At the age of 49 he died, from an accident. At his funeral, I remember the custodian at his branch saying that he would greatly miss Dad - that he always inquired after his family members by name.

It was from my Dad that I got my love of books and my math ability. I also got his build and hair!
He was an extrovert,  a man who could talk with anyone about anything.

My Dad never got to see me graduate from university, marry or see my children.  It was my Mom who walked me down the aisle for my first wedding and my sons when I married the second time.

I think about him a lot, especially on these special days.

 Happy birthday Dad!

10 comments:

Donna Smith said...

Dad's are pretty special people! I think he would have like reading this.

Nanc said...

I'm so glad that you honored him today...he is probably smiling down right now. xo

Peg D said...

Beautiful post and tribute. He sounds like a wonderful man.

BK said...

So sorry he missed your graduation and so many other special times with you
Bonnie

BK said...

So sorry he missed your graduation and so many other special times with you
Bonnie

BK said...

So sorry he missed your graduation and so many other special times with you
Bonnie

BK said...

So sorry he missed your graduation and so many other special times with you
Bonnie

Jackie said...

I so enjoyed reading about your dad. He was from the same generation as my father...who died 23 years ago...both too soon. This is why I love reading the posts from others...there are so many connections, even if we connect just one time. Your dad sounds like a specail guy, who cared about people. Jackie http://familytrove.blogspot.com/

elsie said...

I think your dad would be proud of this daughter. You wrote a lovely post for this man who died too young.

Carol said...

Loved hearing the story of your dad. It's surprising to me, every year on September 5th, and a million other days too, how much I miss my dad. What a special way you have picked to honor him…