Saturday, January 31, 2015
When it came time to purchase my first vehicle he arranged for me to get a steal of a deal on a brand new jeep at a dealership his friend managed. I sat in that office deciding which model when a question arised that only he could answer. I called him. " Dad" I said " Armstrong or power-assisted stearing?" he replied "Armstrong" I can attest that Armstrong steering does in fact build muscles and I believe my bi-ceps grew to be as big and as strong as his! My brother remembers how I almost crashed into the wall when we drove it off the lot.
Something you may not know about my Dad is that he was adopted. He was his mother's pride and joy. It was them against the world. Sadly he lost his mom when he was just 16 years old and his dad lived to be 99. As the rest of the story goes he was conceived in the Interior of BC and his birth Mother came to Vancouver to give birth. An Irish girl. I later found some members of his biological family. It turns out they lived a few blocks away from where he built his house in Williams Lake. It doesn't surprise me that he finally settled in Cranbrook and that his kids were born in Prince George. The interior of BC was is in his blood.
My Dad was special. A sweet man, an easy to please, kind, simple soul, a traveller. A seeker of love and sometimes of himself. A handsome, charming, happy-go-lucky chap who loved big rigs, pick-up trucks, trains. The dining room table at my Grandfathers house had a train that would circle the table until dinner was served. Peanut butter by the spoonful, banana's dipped in peanut butter. Levi's. A horse lover. A cowboy. A child at heart.
I wonder if he knows how much he is loved?
I will miss you forever Daddy. It brings me peace to know you were surrounded by so many people that loved you. I hope Heaven is happy to have you back. I'm sure Grandpa and your Mom were at the gate eagerly awaiting your arrival, arms open with many stories to tell. I will hold you in my safe sacred place where I have always held you forever until we have ice-cream and rice krispies for breakfast again. I love you more.
