Over the years I have witnessed both friends and colleagues lose parents way too early in life. I have been very fortunate to still have both my Mom & Dad who are now both 79 years of age.
Dads play a special role in the lives of their daughters. They have the ability to make or break a child in certain crucial years of development. How they treat their daughters can impact the choices we make as adults in dating, self worth and how we manage in life as grown women. However, I do believe in this modern age love can conquer all regardless of circumstances.
Me & my Dad at our cottage in Picton, Ontario:
I am writing this blog today to tell the world about an amazing man known to me as Daddy. Partly because he is still alive and also he needs to know how important he is to me now. My Dad is well for the most part, but he has Peripheral Neuropathy, most likely caused/awakened from when he had cancer & underwent intense radiation therapy. This disease has affected the nerve endings in both his hands and feet taking away his ability to feel sensations. Unfortunately it has also taken away some of his independence, a man who used to love to go for long walks can no longer do this, his dignity & pride has suffered as he feels useless (this is not true) and it has dragged him down emotionally. His mind is still sharp, but the strong robust man he once was is only in spirit now. I have spoken to my Dad and on several occasions he has said “I am useless” and this couldn’t be further from the truth. Just hearing his voice has given me the strength many a day to go on. Dad, I will never view you as a burden, but always as a man I adore & who looked after and loved his family like no other man could.
My Dad with my two older brothers. Proud papa who looked most handsome in his Navy Commander Uniform:
Growing up I was always well known as Daddy’s little girl. I was spoiled rotten. As a teenager I used to call my Dad’s office in Ottawa, Ontario from Holt Renfrew and tell him I was putting a piece of clothing on hold and if he could pick it up after work and he did most of the time! I guess we were financially well off then, but this was not always the case…
When I was barely two years old, our house burnt to the ground with nothing salvageable. We were away on holiday visiting family at the time. When you have a fire like this – insurance cannot cover all the costs of the losses, in addition to many a priceless item. We had to start all over again in some ways. It was a huge financial loss for my parents, which they never fully recovered from. My Dad has said to me more than once that maybe God allowed the fire to humble the family as opulent wealth can destroy families and turn good men into selfish men. Despite the fire, my family never went without.
Daddy getting his brat late night Quick milkshake:
While we were still recovering from the loss of the fire, my Dad had been laid off from his work. I was only five years old then; my Mom tells me that Dad was so worried about finding me a birthday gift as times were hard; more difficult than what either my Mom or Dad were used to, but my Dad had some money and bought me a gold heart necklace, which I still have to this day. My dad would have scrimped and saved to purchase this for me.
The gold heart pendant:
My Dad has cried with me over the loss of a pet. My Dad has prayed for years that God would bring the right man into my life, my Dad has bailed me out in the past for financial drama I did to myself, my Dad has given me real life talks and he has told me when I was behaving like a complete moron (for my own good!), my Dad has lost sleep (even to this day) over a pending surgery, and my Dad never hangs up the phone without saying I love you (unless I hung up in a rage).
Me & my Dad on my 21st birthday:
I could go on and on about this amazing man, but my Dad is my hero. He has been my hero since I learnt what a hero is and he forever will be my number one man. He says to me “why can’t you find someone to be with?”. Well, who can compete with my Dad? The bar is raised so high; it is near impossible. However, there is a candidate in the running at present!
Dad, I love you, I am proud of you and regardless of your mobility or lack thereof, I think you are perfect & you are still my hero, now & forever.
Peace & Love – Rachel
You Know Jacques! 