It is so difficult to believe that it was over 4 years ago since my father passed away. I have heard that time often heals and lessens the sadness or pain of loss but in my case, this is simply not true. In some respects I miss my father more. I miss him more because everytime the kids say or do something funny, reach a milestone, try a new food, play a new game, I desperately want to share these moments with my dad.
There are countless times that I have wanted to run something by him with regard to Raspberry Kids because he was very astute in business matters. It makes me laugh when I think about what impact he would have had on my business and I know he would have been very actively promoting his fellow seniors to become customers. Why not, they could buy toys, books, gifts from their snowbird home away from home in Florida, Arizona or Mexico and have them shipped to the grandkids in Canada or wherever they might be.
My dad loved to learn, was an avid reader and was a bit of a Macgyver-ish type of trouble shooter, Mr. Fix it. Throught the course of my life, he fixed countless pieces of jewelry, transister radios, ghetto blasters (yes, I realize I am dating myself!), he would put another hole in my belt so we could keep using it versus buying a new one. He had all of the tools you could imagine to fix pretty much anything and the challenge was all he needed. Keeping up with computers and the internet were also something he loved.
He was always asking my husband Jeff computer questions and during every trip to Winnipeg, they would disappear into the basement so Jeff could help fix my dad’s latest computer related issues. One year for Christmas we gave him a new monitor which he was tickled with. Just before he passed away, we were talking about upgrading his old beast of a PC to something newer and faster.
I miss receiving emails from my dad and having the ability to email him. I miss the phone calls, I miss the family trips. I miss having him greet me at the airport and drive me to the airport no matter what ungodly hour I was flying out. I miss shucking oysters together, watching Jets games with popcorn and milk shakes, I miss his wisdom. I miss his omelettes and having a freshly sectioned grapefruit waiting for me on the breakfast table. I miss blueberry picking at Betula, hearing the volvo come up the driveway when Daddy was coming home for lunch, I miss his hugs, I miss his wit and humor. Since the tears are flowing, I want to change the direction of this post into a happy one and will share with you some of the Howie-isms that we included on the program that was handed out at his funeral.
“It didn’t look that good on the rack” (He would use this line when he was modelling a Christmas or birthday gift such as a new golf shirt).
“I am an expert on trees – there‘s one, and there’s one … “
“What time does the 4:00 bus leave? “
“I have no pain dear mother now, tis in the window. “
“My short game is great. I am short off the tee, short on my approach, short on my putts. “
and one of his all time faves …
“Just for that, you can give me a kiss.” (Whenever my sister or I did something he was proud of, we got to give HIM a kiss)
My father was a very wise man and he would always say “Life is for the living” and while I miss him as much today as when he passed away four years ago, I do my best to heed his advice. I am most grateful to have a loving and supportive husband, two incredible kids and a very full life.
Cherish your relationships with your parents and the time you have together. Tell them you love them. Do this today.
Thank you for all you have done and continue to do for me Grandpa Howie.
Your daughter,
Susan
XOXOXO
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