Dad

Dad never swore.  We were talking about this yesterday at Judy's B'day party.  As kids and then as adults we never heard him swear.  Yet he was a Navy man, through and through.  Bet he never swore as a sailor either.  He also had no tatoos.
Dad was often away, yet always there.  The love of my life was, not a boy, but figure skating.  When home, he would drop me at the Arena and return early, to watch the ice dance session at the end, which was my all time favourite thing in the world.
He took me out to buy a new bike and I just about cried when he let me hop on a really good one, then bought it!  Once, I was rather down, for whatever reason and he took me out for lunch.  He took me, yes, just me, to the ship once.  I was very shy back then so I hid in his closet.  He went crazy looking for me.  I never thought about it till now, but maybe he thought I'd fallen overboard. 
Dad was strict, but after teaching for 42 years, I must say kids today could use more of that.
When I was 14, and we lived in Dartmouth, Dad was sent to work at Centralia for the summer.  He was driving  there, but the rest of us were to get the train, to meet him there later.  I casually mentioned that I would like to go with him, figuring on a definite "no", which turned out to be "yes".  Dad said I could keep him company and navigate.  So off we went, through the States, to Grand Bend.  Yes, the Grand Bend of 1964, so wild with riots and police!  Wow, just where were we going?!!!!  Well, Dad stayed in this adorable little cottage with a couple other Navy guys oops-Officers- and rented me a room just up the hill.  Wow, the trust they had in me.  But I was a good kid, and spend most of the time, in fact every day and night, roller skating at the outdoor, hugely popular rink.  I met a sweet guy who became my boyfriend, called Gordie, who worked at the rink, so of course I often got in free and Dad was there every night watching.  At the beginning of August, Mom and my 2 sisters came to join us.  I had to miss the afternoon skate - boy, was I ticked!  But we made it back from Toronto for the night skating!  We all moved into Hilltop, the main cottage of the made-over garage, overlooking the river.  Now I occasionally went to the beach to water ski but always ended up at the rink.  Needed the exercise to wear off the "long johns" Mom and Dad used to buy.
The next summer we went to Old Orchard Beach, where I met the nicest guy, Tom Dube.  He was thinking of joining the Navy instead of being drafted into the army.  I had a real crush on this guy!!!
We ended up leaving N.S. in 1966.  Once again my parents awed me.  Judy was working in Niagara Falls sharing a house with a couple other gals.  I asked if I could live with her for the summer and the answer was yes!.  So just after my 16th Birthday I boarded the train and off I went to Niagara Falls.  I spent hours walking and applying at every store.  I ended up with 3 jobs at one point and even worked at the Sheraton's Gift shop with my Sis.  We were poor,  using toilet paper for napkins.  But I made enough money for my share of the rent and new clothes, to start another new school.
When Mom, Dad and Serita came out at the end of August we moved to Burlington and Dad was stationed at Patriot.  Well, what can I say.  I finished high school, became a teacher, had a marriage that lasted 32 years and at the age of 48 found myself and Danielle living with my Dad.  Fate?  I think so.  Mom had died.  Dad lived in Burlington where I worked and Danielle went to school.  We moved in and looked after each other.
How he loved and adored Danielle.  He never missed a dance competition or school function and spent hours watching her at the rink.  He started to really enjoy life and all of his family, so much more.  He wouln't miss anything.
I held his hand, when I bought my roller blades and said, "Dad, bet you never dreamt you'd be helping me  roller skate at 50!"  When I would go to Confederation Park he would sit on the bench to watch.  Probably to drive home, if I fell.  We were so lucky.  We all, as a family, had a chance to come together again and really appreciate each other.  We have all become much closer.  Went through hell on the way, but the end has been great. And Judy and I have become great, really close friends.
We were all together for Daina's and Kenny's wedding in Nl.  What an amazing, fun trip, not to mention the drive Danielle and I had from Sarasota, Fl., to meet Judy, Dave and Dad, for the ferry in Cape Breton.
I'm glad Dad had those few years to enjoy life.
Miss you so much, Dad,
Love you,
Hedy