My Father found death very difficult.  He once told my mother, at a time when one of his relatives died, that he would not attend the funeral.  My mother said:

“Norm, you have to go, it’s family”

To which dad replied, “Why?  He won’t be coming to mine!”

He was a builder.  He built everything from tables to cars but his specialty was relationships.  There are some people who love unconditionally and without reservation. My father embodied this. He believed that a stranger was a friend you had not met and that family and friends were one and the same.

He taught us to laugh. In his last year, their roof needed replacing and the salesman was explaining the difference between a 20 year roof and a lifetime roof. My father stopped him quick and said;

“Good God man, I don’t buy green bananas, why would I want a 20 year roof?”

My father was my hero.  He left this earth just before his first granddaughter was born. I believe he went to pick her out for me. That was 25 years ago.

We keep him alive through stories and he lets me know he is near with a fallen feather found on my walks.  He is always loved, always missed.

On this day, the day to celebrate the man who helped raise us, I just want to say; “Thank you Dad”.