Dad

Posted on: April 2nd, 2009 | Filed under: remembers | 9 Comments »

62.365: Dad

I remember listening to Radio 4 in the car on the way home from wherever, and sitting in the car outside the house because we were halfway through “I’m Sorry, I Haven’t A Clue” or somesuch, and we wanted to hear it til the end.

I remember going to computer fairs and buying bits and pieces and building computers together on the kitchen table.

I remember how every visit to anything had to include a stop for a “cup of tea” which almost always involved cake.

I remember “The Goon Show” re-enacted, voices and all.

I remember sitting on wooden stools in the kitchen until my bum went numb, watching the TV or talking about things.

I remember the flat bottomed handwriting, because he always wrote against a ruler, except near the end, and that shaky, unflat handwriting still breaks my heart.

I remember the stupid Tandy beachball that blew out of my hands on Lossiemouth beach and running into the North Sea after it, afraid I’d get in trouble for losing it. I remember him running after me to stop me from going too deep, and telling me it didn’t matter, but that he wished I’d dropped his (unread) copy of the Glasgow Herald before I ran into the water.

I remember having Dr Seuss read to me when I was ill with tonsilitis.

I remember him cooking “proper” fish and chips in batter at home once, when mum went away for a couple of days, and how it felt so rebellious and tasted all the better for it.

I remember him telling me to go live my life and not put everything on hold waiting for him to die.

I remember so much.

I miss him so much.

I can’t believe it’s been seven years.

Other, possibly related, posts:

  1. Storms
  2. My Dad
  3. California Dreaming

9 Comments on “Dad”

  1. 1 QuickAmusements (Thom Butler) said at 9:49 pm on April 2nd, 2009:

    Twitter Comment


    WOW!!!! Beautiful. RT @pixeldiva: remembers: [link to post]

    – Posted using Chat Catcher

  2. 2 Foamcow said at 9:51 pm on April 2nd, 2009:

    It’s hard.

    My Mum passed away so long ago that I can’t remember the exact date and I still think about her all the time and wonder what sort of Grandma she’d make to my kids.

    No, I know she’d be the best Granny in the world.

    I’m older now than she was when she died and I’ve lived more of my life without her than with her. That kind of rubs hard.

    It does get “easier” but it never goes away.

  3. 3 natalie said at 9:58 pm on April 2nd, 2009:

    You look like him, did you know that?
    I bet he would be proud of you.

  4. 4 Girard Bolton said at 10:21 pm on April 2nd, 2009:

    Beautifully written!

  5. 5 gfb3 (Frank Bolton) said at 10:30 pm on April 2nd, 2009:

    Twitter Comment


    beautifully written!!! warm feelings… feel good… when shared… [link to post]

    – Posted using Chat Catcher

  6. 6 Michael Kline said at 10:39 pm on April 2nd, 2009:

    I lost my father a year ago and remember him several times a day. thanks for sharing this.

  7. 7 prisca said at 12:45 am on April 3rd, 2009:

    Wonderfully written – beautifully painted memories …
    Thanks for sharing, Ann.
    x

  8. 8 Steve Fleischer said at 1:50 am on April 3rd, 2009:

    This is very touching and much of it reflects my memories of my dad who died 8 years ago. I can’t believe it was that long ago.

    You mention of handwriting got me – I still have the piece of paper on which he tried to write a letter to his sister in Germany. The shaky sentence (when he had to give up) still chokes me up.

    You have such wonderful memories of your dad and, as someone has said, he would be very proud of you. Thank you for sharing this.

  9. 9 Matt Obee said at 4:53 pm on April 3rd, 2009:

    Thanks for sharing, Ann. My Dad died nine years ago – would have been his birthday this month. It’s always a time for reflection.