Dad

As today is Father's Day here in the UK I've been thinking more than usual about my Dad.

My dear Dad died nearly seven years ago.  He was 77 and astonishingly fit for his age, being a keen swimmer and cyclist, but - unbeknownst to him or anyone else - many years before he'd been exposed to asbestos fibres.  One of them had pitched in the lining of his lung and that was what eventually caused his death.

He was a man who didn't suffer fools gladly, never made a fuss - even when told he was dying, was a true sun-worshipper - loved the summer, hated the winter, a staunch trade union man and was very very careful with his money.  In many ways I am my Father's daughter. 

He hated sport but had a real love of swimming and would happily watch ice dancing or snooker on TV for hours.  He had a fascination for space exploration (oh the hours spent watching grainy black and white images of space walks on TV as a child), had several flights in hot air balloons and once in an airship.  He loved the power and beauty of Concorde but never got to travel on it.

He never believed in any sort of organised religion nor any form of after-life, he always said people live on through their children and in the memories of others.  I find that so true these days - often, when I'm speaking to my nephew (or even telling him off), I hear my Father's words come tumbling out of my mouth.  It's completely without thought and it often surprises even me to hear myself repeating things just as Dad used to say them to me as a child.

It's very fitting that Father's Day this year should fall on the summer solstice - the day on which every year my Father would pronounce in a sombre tone 'it's all downhill to Christmas now!'  And, yes Dad, I feel exactly the same.

Comments

[sharie]

What a lovely tribute to your Dad!

[Claire]

That was lovely - I get the feeling that your dad ad my dad would have got on well. I also get the feeling that somewhere, somehow my dad is tinkering away with something and "putting the world to rights" - I too am my father's daughter.x

[sharie]

Elizabeth I have tagged you at my blog!

[Serenata]

A lovely tribute to your Dad.
My Father in Law died last year of Mesothelioma (asbestos caused cancer)it is such a nasty cancer.