In Loving Memory of My Pappa

On Tuesday, August 4, 2009, my dad passed gently away in his sleep. He was not sick. It was an ordinary Tuesday morning, but it was his ‘unexpected hour’ when God decided to call him to His side. I loved my dad and we were very close, but it was a closeness that was hard-won after years of rockiness, held grudges and lack of communication. I am so glad that we took the time to sort out our differences and create a loving relationship.My Pastor said that daddy, “took up a lot of space,” and in so doing he has left a huge void in my heart. We spoke at least once a week, and sometimes I’d get a random text message from him.

My dad was a technophile, but he was a late bloomer as far as computers go. My mom brought a computer home in 1980, but he did not get one until the mid 90’s. He used to grumble that he didn’t want to spend money on something that would be obsolete by the time he got it out of the box. But he took to computers quickly and became an expert. He was my go-to guy for tech support, and he could diagnose computer problems with uncanny accuracy.

The day he passed away was one day after my daughter’s birthday. He had a faulty memory for everyone’s birthday but his own. On Monday morning he called me to ask if it was indeed Bri’s birthday. I confirmed that it was and he said that he was going to call her and wake her up with a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday.” I told him that I was going to set up a google calendar for him that would send him email reminders for all of his children’s birthdays.

Daddy died right in the middle of everything. I did not get the chance to hug him or tell him goodbye or how much I loved him. But I am grateful that he is now in the arms of the Lord. All of his sadness and pain and stress have been taken away and he lives in the joy of heaven.

So, as I learn to put one foot in front of the other again, and find a way to live my life without my daddy in it, I will try to take on some of the strengths that he posessed and shared generously with the world. My dad was down-to-earth, he was kind, he was generous, he had an insatiable curiosity about life, and an infectious sense of humour. I will always love him and never, ever forget him.

Rest in peace, pappa.

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