|
14June 1925-11July 2006
I still miss you Dad and your name brings tears to my eyes.I thought about you Friday when you slipped into the start of your final sleep,
I would have wrote a poem but the best thing I have ever written for you was your eulogy.
I can say I’ve known John all my life – this might have something to do with the fact he conceived me, was there at my birth and I called him dad. That also means that families being the way they are many of you probably knew him better than I. If I sometimes sound that I am talking to him instead of you, it’s because I am - as there was never enough time or opportunities to tell him all I felt and still feel.
I would like to thank him for being there when he was most needed and for not being too disappointed (or at least not showing it) when my achievements didn’t match up to his dreams for me.
Dad taught me many things that have made me the person I am. He taught me to look, see and listen before making decisions. His teaching gave me the strength to stand alone, but, I knew he was always still there in the background waiting to catch me if necessary. He taught me that if I knew a thing to be the truth to be stubborn in defence of it (and boy did that cause some fights!). By example he showed me about patience - which is one of his very few lessons which didn’t catch on with either of us, caring, courage, loyalty and respect. But above all else dad taught me about unconditional love.
They say dads and toddlers understand each other. My dad was special as he understood us once we had all grown up as well. He opened up doors for all of us but never tried to push us and instead he would take us by the hand and lead us gently through if that was what we required. Mostly though he would just wait and encourage us to do it for ourselves even if it was not the door of his choice. Occasionally after ignoring all of his experience and advice, our doors proved to be brick walls but he was still there to pick us up again and he probably did this more times after we had ‘grown up’ than when we were children (well, me at least). He was wise enough to know that a quiet hug healed most hurts, but, a quid or two never went amiss either.
He could be embarrassing as a father – although this was mostly on purpose and for the hell of it, like when he clapped too loud during school plays and sang descant instead of baritone during Christmas carols. No doubt a few of you have similar tales to tell concerning this little quirk of his. Dad wasn’t perfect - he had his faults and made his mistakes just like the rest of us (no confessions just yet), but he understood his and when he mellowed in later life it made him more tolerant of faults and mistakes in others.
Dad has been our certainty and rock in life which has made all the uncertain times bearable. He has been a father to four of us treating his step-daughters no different to his natural daughters and a grandfather to three. He has been a devoted husband to Thelma even though he grumbled about what she spent. But, most of all, to everyone gathered here today whether relative or not he has been the greatest friend a person could wish for.
Party in peace Dad and know you are forever in my thoughts.
|
|
P.S.
Dad I apologise for being a day early but I wanted to be able to type, and tomorrow is going to be a hard day as I have to phone Thelma and I know we will cry. But you will be so much thought of tomorrow .
|
|
I can relate a lot to that Uzzi..
Will be thinking of you tomorrow,xx
|
|
Patricia I will grip your hand made slick with tears.
Barry Thankyou, I know many of GR have losts their dads, strangely it was losing my dad that made me join GR ( wish I had known them 6mths earlier they/you would have made dad's melt down so much mm not easier but more helpful. I actually do believe that I couldn't write a more fitting statement for him than the eulogy that I did.
|
|
Rach, my child, and Mel thankyou
I don't need sympathy mind I just wanted to tell Dad that I cared
No I just wanted to let Dad know I still care.
|
