It’s not as though me and my Dad built decks for a living or built lots of decks together.
We built one deck together. It took us a few days. And by us I mean mostly my Dad.
Up front, I’m not sure whether I was more of a help or hindrance.
I recall smashing my thumb with a hammer. Dad said, more or less, “Great, your Mom is going to kill me”, with a laugh. It was a family joke. She understood. I had suffered many injuries in the care of everyone, as well as those that happened while with friends, in school, alone. I was known as clumsy. Turns out I actually had: Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, and Hypermobile Joint Syndrome. It’s very possible I’m also clumsy.
Why was I at the camp (some call them cottages or summer home, in Northern Ontario, they’re called camps) helping my Dad with the deck? I seemed an unlikely choice, but my older brother who was actually helpful in building situations was away at university and everyone else was working. My Dad was on vacation and we needed a deck at the camp.
We’d work during the day and in the evening we’d have supper then ice cream, watch TV, I’d read to my Dad, or we’d both read to ourselves…and we’d talk.
You may have noticed I refer to my father as Dad, never my father because he’s a Dad, always. Funny, smart, sweet, sometimes annoying, sometimes really annoying, kind, and fun. He loved friends and family, cars, talking about cars, looking at cars, fixing cars, driving cars, watching cars, taking pictures of cars and with cars, also, cats, beer, eating, TV, movies, working, laughing, dancing; he was a gentleman and a gentle man, hopelessly silly…and always a Dad to me and my brother.
There’s never a picture of him where that mischievous twinkle isn’t in his eye except when he had dark sunglasses on, but we know the twinkle’s still there.
I’m not sure we were always aware of how lucky we were to have a Mom & Dad, not just a Mother & Father. We did always know we were loved. Of course, look at us, we were adorable. I love my Mom & Dad today and every day.
I have lived at least six or seven lifetimes in the past 30 or so years since those days at the camp. I wish my memory was perfect or more robust, but the happiness I felt in that time has never faded in my heart.
Enjoy the times you have because you never know until later those times were actually treasures.
Happy Dad’s Day to all those men who care enough to be Dads, not just fathers!
Building Decks With Dad
What a beautiful story!
I remember Wayne Parker as one of the most loving men and Father to two special poeple. He loved his wife and adored his children. To me, he was one of the most important men in my life. Someone who’s gone, now and you hope you told him all the great things about him. What a great Father and a lovely man!
I wish we could have had more time with Dad, but the time we had was great. Nice to see those pictures again.
True. We were lucky. 🙂 Hope you had a great Dad’s day because you’re a great Dad. 😉 🙂
what a sweet post!
Thank you. 🙂
I was just reminded in my email to see this post again, because someone liked it or one of the comments.
Anyway, I just wanted to note once again what a beautiful and evocative piece of writing this is.
Thank you. 🙂
Easy when the writer has such a wonderful subject. 🙂
Hope this weekend is relaxing and treats you kindly. 🙂
Bug hugs. 🙂
What a beautiful post Donna x
Thank you kindly. 🙂
Happy Father’s Day to everyone – I hope you all had great days 🙂
🙂
Loved this! Coincidentally, I am about to build a new deck with my 13-yr old this summer. I hope it means as much to him someday as it will to me. 🙂
That’s wonderful, you’ll be building memories as well as a deck. Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Hope this week treats you kindly. 🙂
Hi, I found my way here through Jason’s bloggers meet! I haven’t read all your stuff honestly but I’ve enjoyed every bit of what I read so far! Very very glad that I could connect to you through the meet… I hope you can find some time to visit me! Cheers 🙂
Jason is awesome!!! So glad we found each other in this giant virtual haystack, Aishwarya. Hope we can virtually visit often. 🙂
We can have fun wandering through each others archives. 🙂
Speaking of meet and greets, if you get a chance, pop by my latest post, it’s also a Meet and Greet https://yadadarcyyada.com/2016/06/10/cant-you-just-pretend-to-be-nice/ Share a post or two or more and meet some other bloggers. 🙂
Hope this week is being good to you so far, lovely to ‘meet’ you.
Hi Donna!
I enjoyed your tribute.
Thanks for bringing your post to the Pit Stop last week.
Janice, Pit Stop Crew
Thank you, Janice, it’s easy when a subject lives in your heart, always. 🙂
Very kind and generous of you to help bloggers find each other. 🙂
Hope this week is being good to you so far. 🙂
Best wishes, Donna
Hi Donna!
That’s beautiful. My dad lives on in my heart too.
Janice
Those who touch our hearts live on them, for sure, Janice, so glad you could drop by, hope this week is treating you well. 🙂
This is such a lovely post – your dad sounds like a wonderful man. Thanks so much for sharing over at #FridayFrivolity 🙂
Thank you kindly, #FridayFrivolity is a blast, glad I found my way there. 🙂
Hope you’re having a wonderful week, Jess. 🙂