This fading old blurry photo is a picture of my Dad, in the back, and my grandpa, in the front.
Funny how without fail after all these years, I still remember my dad’s birthday.
It usually starts off as a few days of unexplained irritability (not so much now), then the morning of, I am like, yep today my dad would have been … whatever the number is for that year.
The impact of loosing my dad at the age of twelve has been lasting and damaging. Well maybe molding and stretching is a better way of expressing it.
You see my life changed drastically, in the year leading up to his death, and even more so after. Mixed with my own biases and perceptions, it lead to years of grief, pain, loneliness, unworthiness, mistakes, victim-hood…acceptance, healing, growth, and strength.
Although I still have tears in my eyes as I write today, for I miss my dad, my heart tells me that I would not be who I am today if I had not traveled the road of loss and pain.
If he had lived, would it have been an easier road? Maybe, who knows what challenges would have been placed in my path to teach me, stretch me and make me grow. Who knows what I would have missed out on if I had not been wounded and slank away.
So today I remember you Dad. I try hard to remember the fishing and camping trips, birthday parties, transport trailer road trips. Although there the memories are somewhat blurry/faded/old.
But the memories that seem to come most quickly to my mind are:
Being three and trying to follow in your footsteps, which was NOT what was good for me (a story for another day).
And a very late school night expedition to set the timing on a transport truck. Your skill was in great demand so on top of your day job, you helped keep other companies trucks on the road. Even though I didn’t quite make it to the end of the job, I felt important in that moment. I wanted so bad to still follow in your footsteps.
But that path was not the one for me. I had to forge on and make my own footsteps.
Today Dad, I pause and remember you, and although the memories fade, and the pain is a little more numb, you are not forgotten, a piece of you; in my heart, lives on.
Beautiful Remade 