"I've been letting my mind wonder at night. My thoughts should have a curfew." Am Kidd

Friday, June 18, 2010

Dad, this one's for you!


My father passed away on October 9, 1998 from pancreatic cancer. He was 81. The night of the wake, as I sat grief stricken, unable to understand my world without him, my 17 year old son came and said: "Mom, we ran out of chairs!" I did not understand what he meant. He looked worried and said again: "Mom, there are no more empty chairs!" I turned and looked around. I was stunned. The room was overflowing! Who were all these people?! Where did they come from?!

One by one, total strangers came and paid their condolences. The grocer’s daughter, the postman, the butcher, the florist’s delivery man, the bakery’s manager and countless other people who seemed to have known my father and were truly upset about his death. As I stood there, numb with pain, I felt my broken heart swell with pride. My father, the helpful, the kind, the patient, the optimist, the one with the ever present smile and the contagious laughter had a special collection. Friends!
Years have gone by since that day. I’ve learned to accept that he is no longer here to share a cup of coffee and read quietly together...

he is no longer here so we could watch a silly movie and laugh until it hurt...


he is no longer here so we could take a walk in the park and feed the ducks...


he is no longer here to help me and offer good advice...


 You’d think that the passing of time has made the memories fade but the fact is, I miss him more each day. He was just that type of person, totally charming, impossible to forget.

I am very lucky to be married to a wonderful man who is not only a loving husband, but also a loving father. I have many things to be thankful for, and at the top of that long list there is my father, a bright shining star, the one who taught me:

“to believe in love and to have faith”
“to seek inner peace in Nature’s beauty”
"that a smile does not cost a penny but is worth a million”
"that no matter what, there is always a solution”
“to make sure and laugh many times a day, every day” and so much more!

On Sunday, as we gather in the garden and celebrate, I will play my father’s favorite song:


I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom, for me and you
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue, clouds of white
Bright blessed days, dark sacred nights
And I think to myself what a wonderful world…

Dad, wherever you are... I love you, I miss you, and all my thoughts are yours on this Father's Day... 



Images by Weheartit.com and Bing

12 comments:

  1. What a beautiful tribute to your Dadx My thoughts are with you and you have so many treasured memories to hold on to. I can see that he truly was an inspiration to you, all my lovexx

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  2. What a truly lovely post for your Dad. The photos and sentiments make me feel as though I know him, like the butcher and the postman.
    I, too, love Louis Armstrong, and his magical song celebrating this Earth.

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  3. What a lovely tribute to your Dad. I lost mine many, many years ago. It is so hard to lose a parent.
    Mary

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  4. Oh dearest Alina, your post made me cry, it touched my heart in so many ways.... what a wonderful heart felt tribute to your dear dad.... may you be blessed my dear and know that some day you'll see your dad again.... this life is more than we see... there is more. My heart awaits that day. Belive in the Son of God and his return to this tired earth... believe in eternal joy!

    Hugs

    Cielo

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  5. Alina( hugs and hugs)...what a deeply beautiful tribute to your dad...you are amazing!Such a deeply touching read...gorgeous...thankyou for sharing the special magic and spirit of your wonderful father!
    Kiki~

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  6. What a lovely tribute. You are a very fortunate soul to have such loving, proud, postive memories to keep him near you.

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  7. What wonderful memories and how proud your Father would have been to know what a lovely woman you have grown up to be.

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  8. Alina,

    Such love pours from your words. I was moved to tears by your sweet memories. Your post is a reminder that love is never ending.

    On this Father's day, may you smile as you play that song, remembering all your father gave you. True and honest love can't be measured by money or time. It is a gift and you are blessed!

    Hugs,
    Sherrie

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  9. Darling Alina...what a beautifully moving tribute to your beloved dad...he sounds like an extraordinary man. How lucky you are to have spent all that wonderful time with him. oh, 'The Party' is one of my faves...I giggle everytime when he loses that shoe! Hilarious! My father and I have become closer as the years have gone on, and I now realise that although we are very different in many ways, I know that he loves me deeply. What a wonderful world x

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  10. What a lovely post Alina, how wonderful that you have so many beautiful memories of your father! Losing a parent isn't easy, I lost my Mom 15 years ago, and I have never forgotten, her. I hope Father's Day will be a beautiful day for you filled with wonderful, happy memories, and shared with loved ones.
    Blessings,
    Becca

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  11. Your message brought tears to my eyes. I am new (to the outside world) with my blogging. My own father has been gone 40 years (FORTY YEARS)-can that be? I was only 20 when he died and I still miss him every day. I know that's hard to believe~but I do! I found your blog quite by accident...and feel that I was meant to stop by here today!

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  12. Thank you very, very much,

    Cata.

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Albert Schweitzer said "In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit" I thank you all!