I thought for today’s Soulful Sundays, I’d pick a song that celebrated fathers.  The Temptations’ Papa Was a Rolling Stone was the first one that came to mind though it’s a celebration of one type of father.

June’s a difficult month, not only because of Fathers’ Day but because the 6th is the day my father was born.

When I was growing up, my father and I had a sometime stormy relationship but either I mellowed as I got older or he began to see my point of view. Either way, we became very good friends. I could talk to him about anything. Whenever I went home, the first thing he’d do is fix us drinks and we’d sit on the verandah and talk for hours. There’d be much laughter as well.

My dad loved cricket and politics and would read the newspaper from cover to cover everyday. His next big love was his lodge. I used to try every trick I could think of to get him to tell me about the lodge but he’d never say a word.

The Sunday Dad was taken to the hospital, my sister called. I felt certain he’d recover. After all, he’d assured me several months earlier when he’d had a mild stroke that he wasn’t “going anywhere.” I believed him. A few days later, he couldn’t see. And I knew.

I rushed home and went to the hospital. I still felt he’d make it. But he passed away with us at his bedside. Everyone said he had waited for me. I’d like to think he did.

Here’s The Temptations’ Papa Was a Rolling Stone

Happy Fathers’ Day!