Last week we experienced dad’s first birthday since he
passed away. I’m not going to pretend getting through the day was easy. But I
did manage to find some quiet time to sit down and just remember some of those
moments we both smiled as I grew up.
In honour of dad’s birthday, here are some stories from
happier family times:
Yukon Mice Are Strong
We had many fantastic family vacations, but the best one
ever had to be our trip to the Yukon. Mom and Dad loaded us three kids into a
station wagon, hitched up a trailer, and made the treacherous drive up the
Alaska Highway (back when the Alaska Highway truly sucked).
I don’t remember exactly where we were in our trip, but I
do remember us kids throwing rocks into the water. There was a bridge off in
the distance. There was some sort of motel behind us. And much to our parents’
chagrin, there were some fishermen between us rock-hurling kids and the water.
I don’t really recall how many times they had to ask us to stop hurling rocks,
but I do remember they were getting kind of mad. So we stopped. And as soon as
the folks turned their backs...one good and fast rock went whizzing past them,
narrowly missing a fisherman before making a satisfying KERPLUNK into the
water.
However, my brother proceeded to explain that while he
certainly did not throw any more rocks, he did see a mouse grab a rock and
throw it. Mom and Dad laughed at that explanation for years to come.
I’m still a bit put out that my brother totally got away
with throwing that rock.
Everybody was Croc-Fu Fighting
In some countries, if you throw your shoes at someone you
are hurling great insult and disrespect their way. But at mom and dad`s house,
throwing shoes was a sign of loving affection. Named for the ugly garden shoe
that everyone loves to wear in inappropriate places, Croc-wars were the
invention of Dad and his grandson Matty. They would both place a Croc on each
hand, and then try to slap each other silly with them. Matty would literally
scream with delight. Sometimes, he laughed until he puked. Papa usually won
(although I’m pretty sure he cheated).
Eventually slapping each other with crocs escalated into
throwing crocs at each other. Landing a shoe in the face was often met with
much laughter and merriment, and we have many photos of brightly-coloured crocs
flying through the air to prove it.
How did such a strange family activity get started? I
have no idea. But I’m glad it happened.
When One Cake Just Won`t Do
My dad loved nothing more than giant family picnics and
family gatherings in the back yard of the family home. He loved to celebrate
everything. There were back-yard parties for family day, birthdays, and
anniversaries. Quite often, he didn’t need a reason at all.
In 2007, we celebrated dad’s birthday with a family
gathering in the back yard. I remember him being very calm and happy hanging
out with Mom, us kids and the grandkids on the patio. The weather was perfect.
We all laughed too hard. We all ate too much food (there were TWO birthday
cakes for some reason that I can no longer remember).
We all smiled so much.
Happy birthday dad.
Photo 1 caption: Dad celebrates his birthday with TWO
cakes at our family home in Calgary, Alberta in July 2007
Photo 2 caption: These brightly coloured crocs spent more
time being hurled into people`s faces than they ever spent on anyone`s feet.
Submitted by: Liesa Evans, Daughter
