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!