For several weeks now, I’ve been mulling over what to write for Father’s Day and rejecting each idea that surfaced. I was undecided and a little conflicted about what to share — I like to keep private the few memories I have of him.
Sixteen years since he passed, I still think about my father quite a bit. Sometimes I hear an item on the news and wonder what he’d have to say about it.
I have no doubt, for example, that he’d be watching cricket and talking back to the television as if that would help the performance of the current West Indies team.
We’d both be older now and moving into different roles. I wonder what our relationship would have been like. Would he let me fuss over him? Would he still be the same jovial person I remember?
Because of his job, my father traveled extensively around the island and overseas. Sometimes as I drive around now, I wonder what it would have been like having him as my co-pilot. I know it would have been fun to see the country from his perspective and share mine with him. I would have loved, for example, to have him show me his favorite places, the ones that were near to his heart, and meet some of his old friends.
I’d have been especially touched to have him show me the place that molded him into the man he became. From the stories I’ve heard over the years, his childhood home in the cool hills of Clarendon was a lovely place to grow up. Standing in the shade of a breadfruit or a mango tree, I would have loved to hear the stories again. This time, the images I’d created in my mind of where the yam hills were or the spot where the little shop used to be, and the school where he developed his thirst for learning would be replaced by new pictures with smells and sounds built in. I know there’d be at least one person whose house we’d have to stop at so he could say hello. And we wouldn’t have left without finding a bar to have a drink.
So on this Father’s Day, I remember Ken and wish, like Luther Vandross sang in this song, that I could have one more Dance With My Father.
A sweet tribute to a special man in your life. I also miss my father terribly.
Lovely way to honor your father today, Marcia. Your post really resonates with me as my dad passed away in 2006. I’m very grateful for the time I had with him, but I would have liked more.
That post gave me the shivers. What a lovely way of expressing your love. I just got off the phone with my father who’s almost 80 now and in ok but not great health. My father-in-law has been gone for far too long and I’m always so sorry my husband and kids didn’t have more time with him.
Here’s to happy memories.
Beautiful tribute…I felt like I was right there with you under that mango tree…
Lovely tribute to your father! I’m lucky that mine is still around and cherish each day he is still on this earth.
Thanks, Debbie. I agree: savor every moment with him.
Hope he had a great day yesterday.
Thanks, DeeJ. It’s not a bad place to listen to old stories.
Oh sorry, Leigh! I’m so glad your dad’s still around. I wish you many more years with him.
Thanks, Cathy. There’s never enough time, that’s for sure.
Thanks, Marlys. No matter how long it’s been, it always seem like yesterday.
Happy father’s day to all the fathers around the world! It is really interesting that father’s day isn’t celebrated in the country that I am actually living in (Hungary). They celebrate mother’s day (but a few weeks before the international one) and they haven’t heard about father’s day yet. But these days there is always father’s day because of the european football championship:)
This is such a touching tribute to your dad! I love your mention of watching cricket and talking back to the TV…my dad was famous for the same thing with football:-) Here’s to our fathers!
Hahaha, that’s such a man thing, isn’t it? Thanks, Jess. Here’s to our fathers!!
Interesting, I didn’t think there was any country that didn’t celebrate father’s day.
Glad there’s the football championship, good place to start, eh?
What a very touching tribute for your Dad. I am sure he is happy. Our father is a hero and I believe that without them we cannot see this world. Thanks for sharing this!
You’re welcome, Ashleen. Thanks for saying that, you’re so right!
Whenever I hear that song while carrying the baby, tears come to my eyes – remembering my dad and hoping that one day my baby will feel the same.
Oh, that’s such a beautiful sentiment. I hope your baby will feel the same as you feel about your dad.
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