Happy Dad's Day

To all the Dads out there - and to those forever in our hearts :0)) I posted this on my other blog...but it is definitely worthy of being posted twice!



My Dad was part of the generation, the Extraordinarily Ordinary Folks. He was a great man, a humble man but one of the great ones. He was such a family man - a kind, gentle man who never raised his voice, nor ever hit us outside of a couple of little swats for reaching towards a hot stove or running into the street. Getting in trouble with Dad meant the dreaded "we are so disappointed in you" talk. Yikes!

Dad was raised by decent hard working people. He enlisted at 17, with the help of his uncle, and soon headed off to fight for his country and do battle with the 'unknown' evil that was spreading throughout Europe. As a young man, he did what everyone did, still some of them still teens, enlisted and took up arms, not knowing if they would see their families again. . This is what you did - it was about duty, honour, valour, serving your country - many paying the ultimate sacrifice.

My Dad was one of the lucky ones. He came home, met my Mom at the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition where she was doing demonstrations for Eaton's Dept Store - it was great fun for her and her friends to get to work at the 'Ex') and within 7 months, just before he was to be shipped out to Korea, Mom flew out to Washington, where they were married.

I was born 2 1/2 years later. Dad took night school to become an accountant. Yep, my Dad was an accountant! He was a very smart man, a voracious reader and a history buff. He loved all history, especially ancient history, religious history and of course Canadian history. I asked him why he chose to become an accountant since he didn't really like it as he had such passion for other professions. He told me that it would be a good career for a family man and he would always be guaranteed a job and be able to provide a comfortable live for his family.

We weren't rich, we weren't poor but we were happy and comfortable. I went to Sunday school, Girl Guides, figure skating, ballet, and was involved in the youth groups at the church. I remember the weekends with Dad. He put the toboggan in the car and f we an afternoon tobogganing down the hills near the Rideau Canal in Ottawa. He took the family fishing north of Pembroke. The big day was when I caught eight fish, my Mom and sister got one between hem and dad caught 0. I laughed and Dad had to teasingly remind me that he didn't have time to catch any fish as he was busy baiting my line ;) Then he went and bought skates, even with his damaged feet, so he could help us learn to skate.

Dad took us out collecting leaves and help me organise them for my school project. He called up all the relatives to buy my girl guide cookies. He had all his work friends and neighbours to support my school band's car wash fund raising day. When the school band went to Ottawa and I was on the front page of the paper meeting our new exciting prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau, he bought up as many copies as he could to send them to all the family and friends. My folks showed up at all my band concerts, 'fashion' shows for home ec and they never missed parent teacher meetings. :| They did this for the three of us. Both my parents were involved, interested, supportive and encouraging. They were strict but were always fair and reasonable.

The expectation was that we would be going on to university. Period. And we did.

As I grew older, I came to like my parents as people, I always loved them of course, but we had fun together. My dad grew the best tomatoes. When I wanted to start a garden, he was off and running at 7 a.m. to the local nurseries to buy soil and plants :) He helped me make jams and pickles. I loved going shopping with him (he would have to raid his secret stash as we could both spent money ;)) He always took me to the Eaton's Santa Claus parade in Toronto. We did Christmas baking, made Christmas cakes, put the decorations up as early as we could sneak them by Mom, and he even had a Santa toilet seat cover. :0)

Dad cooked the Christmas dinner! Mom was his official co-chef, quality control expert and taster but no one could cook a turkey like he could. Dad's apple pies were hard to beat. He made the best pastry and piled those apples high. :0)

He was a kind, gentle, no nonsense man and everyone liked him and respected him.

Some evenings as I grab my tea to sit down and catch the 6 p.m. news...I can still hear my Dad as he called "Deb, tea is ready" and then he and Mom sat down with their tea to watch the 6 o-clock news and Dave Duvall's weather.

He was one of the GREAT ones.


A few of my dad - he was such a good sport ;)