Sweet Sleep and Eternal Worry
Photo: dugasj on Flickr
Why is it that moms worry about everything? Maybe it’s ingrained in our DNA to worry about our offspring as a way to ensure we don’t give them away or eat them, but I don’t think there’s a mother out there who doesn’t worry about her kids.
And I can understand the worry about the big, bad things – drowning, car accidents, falls from windows etc. – but we also find a way to worry about the good things.
Last night, mini-boy slept over 11 hours straight.
I had fallen asleep early – something very rare in my world (side note: I have a hard time forcing myself to go to bed at night because the non-kid silence is so lovely and I know that once 6am rolls around it’s non-stop mom responsibility for the next 13+ hours) – and awoke at 1am… still fully dressed as I was when I laid down thinking I’d just rest for a few minutes. After being up for 45 minutes or so I actually got myself ready for bed thinking I’d have another hour or so before mini-boy would wake me with his little cries.
So 6am rolls around and I wake up in a panic… and soaking. No cries.
Fighting the urge to run in to the kids’ room and check his breathing I laid there thinking about the grim possibilities.
I remember this with mini-man – now 4. He had been on a regular schedule of sleeping 8pm-midnight, waking for a feeding, then sleeping until 4am, waking for another feeding and then he would go back down until maybe 6:30 or so. I remember so vividly the night he first ditched the midnight feeding… I woke up (also soaking, I might add) about 5am and realized there was no crying. I thought he was dead. Then I went in and checked his breathing… still breathing. So then I worried that he’d awaken at midnight as usual and I’d somehow slept through his crying… then I felt awful and berated myself for being a terrible mother.
Then I realized he’d just slept through. Most likely. He began to sleep 8 hours straight every night after that.
At least with the second child the worry is a little reduced because I finally realized how insane I’d been the first time around. But honestly I don’t know of a single mother who hasn’t, at some point, checked her sleeping infant’s breathing… even sometimes going so far as to wake the baby to make sure he’s alive.
Why do we do that? Sleep is a good thing, right?
And now that this hurdle is over, I can go on to worrying about more important things… like food allergies, milestones, weaning, injuries, tantrums, back-talk and questions about where babies come from.
Just one baby – A day in the life
Oh how our perceptions change.
I remember thinking 4 years ago how difficult life with a baby was. I’m not sure if it was the postpartum depression, the personal adjustment to becoming a mother or the adjustment my marriage took to figure it all out… perhaps it was a combination of all of the above. I sure found parenting to be a wicked change from my blissful life simple adult life life before kids.
Now when I find myself with just one baby, I’m at a bit of a loss as to what to do with my time. There’s a weird sense of relief and boredom all rolled in together at the thought of not having to entertain a curious and energetic 4 year old, but having only to occupy a not-quite-5-month-old baby whose only source of frustration is when he can’t get the toy to his mouth in a timely manner.
Today, mini-man was with his Nona and I had not had the foresight to make any plans in advance other than a music rehearsal this morning. My mom came over to babysit mini-boy and was horrified when he slept through the entire visit (she drives a good 45 minutes to get here). I put him down for a nap at 9:15am and was certain he’d be awake by 10, but I returned at noon to a disappointed Nana who kept peeking in to see if she was going to get any cuddle time whatsoever.
I filled the rest of the day with take-out sushi, a trip to the store for light bulbs and a new booster seat for Nona’s car, visits to a couple of open houses in the neighborhood where I’d like to live, a nap and some reading. After our busy afternoon **insert sarcasm here** I talked on the phone, played with mini-boy on the livingroom floor, fed him, gave him a bath and put him back to bed. Then I indulged in a glass of wine, some leftover pesto pasta straight out of the plastic container I’d stored it in and settled in to my couch with my book. Then I fell asleep.
It was 7:30pm.
For the life of me I can’t quite put my finger on why I found parenting so difficult when I had only one baby with two parents. Now I guess I’m getting used to having two kids with one parent… Anyway, for any of you who are finding adjustment to new motherhood hard, take heart… you will one day look back and wonder what all the fuss was about.
Just one baby… easy peasy.
What’s in your underwear?
Photo: Frankfarm on Flickr
Get your head out of the gutter… I’m talking about cancers below the belt.
Last month, a very close friend of mine lost her step dad to bladder cancer. Before he had bladder cancer he’d had prostate cancer and this same friend lost her dad 10 years ago to colon cancer. I have some other friends who lost their mom to colon cancer as well. There is no shortage of stories of how cancer devastates families every day.
In fact, I have been treated twice and know many other women who have also been treated in various ways to remove pre-cancerous cells from the cervix. This is way more common than you might think. And it’s a little scary.
This year, I’ve decided to run in the BC Cancer Foundation’s Underwear Affair in memory of Bob Walker to help raise money for this worthy cause:
Join BC Cancer Foundation’s Underwear Affair® presented by Mark’s Work Wearhouse and help uncover the cure for underfunded below-the-waist cancers like prostate, ovarian, and colorectal. On July 10, 2010, run the competitive 10K or walk the fun 5K and show Vancouver that there’s absolutely no shame in bringing a little awareness to down there-ness. [uncoverthecure.org]
The minimum fundraising commitment for this event is $300 and I’m hoping you will help me reach my personal goal of $500 raised. I have kicked off the donations by chipping in $100 of my own, but I’d love to see my friends and family rally around to help me.
It’s been a long time since I ran 10km though I’m confident I will find the strength to run this race. I only have to take one look at the sadness on my loved ones’ faces to see how important this is… and I want to help make a difference.
Will you help me? Please click below to donate.
Have you or someone you know been affected by cancers below the belt? Please share your story in the comments… or maybe you’d consider running with me.
Monday Moans
Photo: Aleksi Aaltonen on Flickr
Well it’s Monday morning and I’m going to take this opportunity to indulge in a little whining…
I’m seriously unimpressed with the state of my body. Not the shape of it. The state of it. Two pregnancies and two c-sections (not to mention breastfeeding two babies), combined with some less-than-healthy personal habits have indeed left the shape with something to be desired. I can, however, live with the shape. The physical state, on the other hand, is desperately out of whack.
Parenting is physically demanding. I remember this after mini-man was born… I have nearly no range of motion in my shoulders from constantly having my arms out in front of me – carrying babies, pushing strollers… well, sitting at the computer typing… add the sliced up abs from the c-sections and my lower back is messed up too and requires active rehabilitation to fix it.
I wake up every morning with a sore, stiff back, tension headaches and numb hands. What I need to do is re-balance my physiology to fix these problems and it will definitely require the help of a personal trainer who knows what they’re doing.
I’ve decided to check out a new gym that has childminding. Options are certainly limited in North Vancouver: North Van Rec Commission has childminding at most gyms but the hours are limited. Fitness World has childminding too with somewhat extended hours but they pack the kids in like sardines with very little supervision. I will give Genesis Athletic Club a go and see what their facilities are like.
I’m also torn between massage, chiropractic and physiotherapy to fix my back & shoulders… not sure what should be my first line of defense. Personally I’d hope an aromatherapy massage and a glass of wine would fix it, but sadly I think it’s going to take a little more effort on my part.
What’s your Monday Moan?
Photo: limowreck666 on Flickr
The more I use social media tools to communicate with people the more I ponder the long-term rammifications of such systems. I know there was a time when people were a little nervous about using a little newfangled tool called the telephone. Similarly, when email became a viable communication tool in business, the C-suite got their panties in bunches because everything anyone said would become written record. Now, in the days of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Flickr, MySpace, forums and the myriad other social networking sites out there, EVERYTHING is a matter of written record. Personal, professional, not-so-professional… everything.
The one thing I find absolutely fascinating about these sites is that it takes a certain kind of person to start a conversation. There is definitely a sort of narcissistic tendency that drives status updates everywhere. Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn all have a status update field, and updating one’s status is like starting a conversation without knowing who you’re talking to… it’s sort of akin to running out into the street and screaming, “I just ate pancakes for breakfast!” to see who might respond. The business equivalent is like standing in the subway yelling, “I improved sales by 23% over last year by implementing a new CRM system!” What kind of person starts a conversation without someone on the receiving end?
Almost everyone.
If that is the case, are we creating a narcissistic society? What does the future of social networking look like?
The simple fact that I have a blog probably makes me a bit of a narcissist if I’m being honest. I’ve never met a blogger who didn’t get a sense of accomplishment from checking their site stats; some even go so far as to set up full Google Analytics and track conversion rates for email and feed signups. It’s not that I think there’s anything wrong with that, but it is just evidence of the ego boost that goes along with knowing people are interested in what you have to say.
I’ve always been a little awkward in new situations or when I’m put on the spot; it’s the reason I’ve become so incredibly truthful in every situation – sometimes to my own detriment. Somehow I find being completely transparent makes life easier… not to mention, I don’t have to try and remember what I said in any given situation. In light of my mildly stunted personal skills, social networking and communicating online gives me the opportunity to think through what I want to say before I blurt out something ridiculous. This is good for me.
I am excited at the prospect of a transparent world.
Ten years from now, everyone will be online sharing status updates and leaving a trail of evidence to their lives behind them. No longer will anyone have a public and a private persona. No longer will people have to worry about not getting a job because they had some college party photos on their Facebook; companies will barely be able to find anyone who hasn’t posted something that shows them enjoying a drink, wearing something too revealing (or nothing at all), or doing something embarassing. What will happen, though, is that we’ll all have to evaluate every relationship by looking at the total person with all their dirty laundry hanging out for the world to see. We will have to consider everyone from a different perspective. I can’t tell you how often it has shocked me to see CEOs use the phrase “WTF” on Twitter. Seriously. It shocks me. But ten years from now it won’t. I will just get to know that those people will likely drop the F-bomb in the office too and decide if that’s okay with me.
I’ve already said more online than many people and maybe that will come back to bite me in the butt one day. But I’m happy knowing I’m true to me and if someone chooses to overlook me for a given opportunity because I’m a born-again Christian or because I’ve had postpartum depression, because I once bashed a reality TV star or because I have written about the joys of colon cleansing so be it. I’m okay with that. The kind of opportunities I’m looking for are those where my skills can make an impact and those that allow me to be as nerdy as I want, let me try out new ideas and allow me to do what it is that I’m passionate about.
I can’t and won’t be someone else just so more people will like me. After all, I think I’m pretty great and that’s all that matters.
I dare you to copy your most recent status update to the comments…
This past week I had the pleasure of travelling to a tiny town in western Saskatchewan to visit Dave’s dad, John, and his wife Margot. I’ve met them twice before, but haven’t seen them since before Dave and I were married. I thought in the wake of Dave’s death, it would be good to establish the relationship between them and our sons. They are, after all, family.
Dave and his dad had a tough relationship and some massive miscommunications, coupled with baggage from the past, led to some less-than-agreeable words passing between them. However, I believe that Dave – with his heavenly wisdom – would have wanted his dad to get to know his kids. So we headed off to Wilkie, Saskatchewan on Monday.
Wilkie is about 160km northwest of Saskatoon. A cute little town with a population near 1200 it is tiny but has some character. John & Margot run a bed & breakfast there called the Pioneer Parish Bed & Breakfast – an old church they’ve converted. They live downstairs in the old church basement, which they have completely renovated and restored, and have built two guestrooms on the main floor in the church sanctuary. The place is cute – it’s full of antique trunks, art etc. and they have it set up to do karaoke every so often with the people of Wilkie. Dave always did have fond memories of his dad on a guitar… mini-man had a great time playing guitar with his Papa John.
Pioneer Parish Bed & Breakfast
Mini-Man with Papa John
Me & the boys with Papa John & Margot
It was really a great visit despite the snow blowing sideways on May 4th and temperatures that never got much above freezing. We stayed up way too late at night talking about all kinds of things and just basically getting to know one another. I’m very glad we went. Mini-boy was a champ and thrilled everyone with his huge smiles; he even slept well… not sure why he won’t replicate the good sleeping at home, mind you. Mini-man was fairly well-mannered and charmed all the ladies as usual (his father’s son lol).
If I have learned anything through Dave’s death it’s that life is all about the people around you – your family and friends. That’s all there is when it comes down to it.
If you have anyone in your life with whom you share a strained relationship, I urge you to seek them out, try and look at life from their perspective and work it out. Talk. I think sometimes when kids grow up we try and maintain a parent-child relationship to some extent even though we are children no longer. It’s really a very valuable exercise to get to know your parents or your children as adults… firstly it likely makes for way better conversation, but secondly I think we can continue to learn and grow from the wisdom of our parents. I also think parents can learn from the wisdom of their adult children… if they can see past the troubled teen they once knew.
Now go… give your loved ones a hug and tell them you love them.
And by the way, if you’re ever in Wilkie, Saskatchewan and looking for a place to stay, give John & Margot a call at the Pioneer Parish Bed & Breakfast at (306) 843-2719. They’re lovely and gracious hosts.
Sharing my story with the world
Well, it’s official. I have become a mommy blogger… or at least I’ve been recognized as one. I was nominated by Vancouver Mom as one of Vancouver’s top 30 Mom-Bloggers. I think I have Karl Woll from Outdoor Vancouver to thank for that (thanks Karl!) I am flattered and it has made me think about my blog and consider writing again.
I haven’t written since my husband’s death for a few reasons: Firstly, the myriad thoughts in my head can often be confusing and move so swiftly I couldn’t imagine coming up with anything coherent to say in one sitting; secondly, I had never wanted to be a mom blogger but at this time in my life I have very little else to discuss aside from my husband’s death and my grieving process; lastly, I wasn’t really ready to share that grieving process with the world as I didn’t want to crank out posts that would just make people feel sorry for me.
Now that a couple of months have passed I can think more clearly and want to begin sharing my new story with you. Blogging sure puts you out there and it really can take quite a commitment to sharing some of these thoughts in hopes that they may have some kind of profound effect on someone somewhere.
So here goes…
Dave and I were together 10 1/2 years. We were married for 5 1/2 of those years and our oldest son just turned 4 in March and our youngest is now 4 months old. Dave and I had quite a crazy relationship and it took a lot of learning and a lot of commitment to make it work and to make it good. In the last 2-3 years we had really learned to live for each other, parent together… we’d become one. But it took a long time to get there. We were both excited about the future – Dave especially. I was more nervous because I don’t really like uncertainty, but he made me feel safe.
I would have gone anywhere with him.
As tragic as his death was, I really feel like God prepared me and my heart for it. It’s only in retrospect of course that I can see it, but a combination of leading and revelation in my life somehow put the pieces together to where it made sense. I had been writing about how I felt God’s leading to stop working so hard and take time to enjoy my family even though I thought I was working hard FOR my family. Dave was off work from an injury and we had no idea what he’d end up doing or how he’d make a living and yet I felt overwhelmingly like I was not to focus my attention and time on my career, which is totally counterintuitive for me. Since our youngest son, “mini-boy”, was born in December and until the day Dave was killed, we spent every day together as a family enjoying one another – going to parks, beaches, playing video games, day trips… talking about our dreams and learning how to live our new life as a foursome.
That time was absolutely precious and I believe it was a gift.
You know how you live with some kind of expectation for the future? You have a plan… you can envision where you’ll be 6 months from now, a year from now and you have a picture of where you want to be 3, 4, 5 years from now? We didn’t have that. We were living each and every day trusting God would work his plan in our life, that he would provide for our financial needs and that things would work out in whatever way they would. We had talked about how we both felt overwhelmingly like something astronomical was going to happen in 2010 that would change our life forever; we just didn’t know what that would be.
We were excited about it.
In the week before he died he had done so many things that, in essence, made my life after his death all that much easier. He had moved around all the furniture in our bedroom and put up the crib for mini-boy; he had cleaned out both vehicles and had our main vehicle serviced; we had gone grocery shopping and stocked up our home not only with food, but with all those household things you need but hate to buy – laundry soap, diapers, razor blades, paper towel, cleaning supplies, aluminum foil etc… you get the picture. Finally, the morning he died he had even done all the laundry lol!
Dave liked to do some crazy things: aside from riding motorcycles he enjoyed scuba diving, skiing… we’d gone skydiving together a couple of times. He lived closer to the edge than most. For that reason, I had actually had to consider what my life would look like if he were to die. I know that sounds morbid, but I had thought about it – we had to. We had discussed how much life insurance to buy, we have some good friends who have agreed to raise our boys if I go too, and we had discussed final arrangements. I just never thought I’d need to use any of that information. In a way, though, that made getting through these last two months much easier than it otherwise could have been.
My mom had a friend who had always said, “When I go I want to get hit by a bus in a good neighborhood.” Saturday, March 6th – a day I’ll never forget – was a beautiful day. Dave had wanted to get out for a little ride because the rest of the week was supposed to be rainy. He took the boys in the morning so I could go get a workout – my favourite cardio-kickboxing class at Champions Academy, then he picked me up and took us home and got all geared up to go for his ride. He was planning to run an errand out to a bike shop in Langley and then meet up with friends who were riding from Maple Ridge; he planned to travel back home to the North Shore with them. He left our place at 12:30 and was planning to be home by 3 to go hiking with me and the boys at Lynn Canyon. Boy, how life can change in an instant.
In the end it was a beautiful day, he was excited about his future, things between us were good, he was enjoying the company of friends and doing something he was ridiculously passionate about and his death was instantaneous. Ultimately his heart was unplugged and I’m confident he didn’t feel a thing. Now, if there is a GOOD way to die… I suppose that’s it. Our last words were “I love you!” “I love you too… ride safe.” “I will,” he responded. And I know he did.
But what will be will be… I have seen the hand of God all over our life together. I wouldn’t even have my faith and salvation if it weren’t for my relationship with Dave. His life made a difference on this earth and he’s left a lasting legacy. I believe I will see the redemption following his death and I hold tight to that faith.
So now that I’ve got that much out, I’ll be sure to share more of me with you in the coming days, weeks, months.
In other news, I decided to get myself a Mother’s Day gift this year – I just picked up the brand new Canon Rebel T2i. I figure you can never have enough photos and videos of your loved ones… might as well make them good ones. The above photo is one I took while trying it out yesterday with mini-man. Can’t wait to take it off auto…
If you’re new to my blog or have just stumbled upon it through a search engine, you can read all the entries about the death of my husband here.
The biggest goodbye
You may have already heard by now, if we’re friends or if you follow me on Twitter, that my husband Dave was killed in a motorcycle accident last Saturday, March 6th, in Pitt Meadows. He was just 36 years old.
I have been overwhelmed by the love and support I’ve received from thousands of people – friends, family, my church, my colleagues, the Vancouver social media community, the ladies in the Just Mommies January 2010 Playroom and friends of friends who have started prayer chains for me at their churches. I have received daily meals, financial contributions, countless offers for babysitting, house cleaning, company and I literally have thousands of people praying for me and my two boys. I can’t thank you all enough for your kindness and support at this incredibly difficult time.
Please join me to celebrate Dave’s life
at 1pm on Wednesday, March 17th
at Lynn Valley Full Gospel Church.
(Edit: Please park across the street in the mall parking)
Dave had a bigger heart than anyone I’ve ever met. He was twice the parent I’ll ever be, an amazing husband, a loving son and brother and a loyal friend to many. He touched the lives of so many people in his short life. We both knew God was planning something big but we just never would have imagined what. I trust wholeheartedly that he is at home with the Lord, he is healed and every question has been answered. It was a beautiful day, he was doing what he loved and he went quickly without pain. I count it a blessing.
Dave Evans: September 10, 1973 – March 6, 2010.
I love you forever.
If you’re new to my blog or have just stumbled upon it through a search engine, you can read all the entries about the death of my husband here.
Metabolism Overhaul
So you probably know that two months ago I had a little boy – my second – and I have definitely blogged before about the issues I’ve had with my weight. Well after pregnancy #2 I’m left with 10 lbs on top of the 35 lbs I had stuck to me after pregnancy #1.
Without kids it’s easy to just work your butt off in thr gym to shed the extra weight but with a preschooler and a newborn I’m lucky to get a shower every day let alone time at the gym. So you have to make adjustments.
The Book: Master Your Metabolism
I’ve just read Master Your Metabolism By Mariska Van Aalst & Jillian Michaels (on my iPhone using the Kobo app). Jillian Michaels, as you probably know, is the hardcore ripped trainer from The Biggest Loser. I have to be honest with you… I have a bit of a chick crush here. She is definitely an authority on diet and exercise if her own physique (and those of countless Biggest Loser contestants) is any indication.
The premise of the book is that many of us who have dieted have royally screwed up our endocrine systems by severely restricting calories, eating non-foods, being over-stressed and not getting enough sleep. Here’s an excerpt from Master Your Metabolism; I won’t copy the content as it would be copyright infringement, but definitely give it a read. I think everyone who has ever struggled with their weight should read this book.
Not only are these extra pounds bugging me, but I can feel the unhealthy cycles in my body yet I feel pretty powerless most of the time. See, I know I don’t drink enough water and I know I eat when I’m tired. Two truths.
When I get dehydrated I crave sugar. Usually I’ll reach for a coffee (because I take sugar in it, right?) which will dehydrate me which will make me crave sugar… so then I move on to more sugar which makes me crash so I go for more… you can see how this could be problematic, right?
What I should do is drink more water and get more sleep.
But, with a 2 month old baby, sleep is elusive and it’s hard to drink the 3L of water I should be each day given my baby is exclusively breastfed. So that contributes even more to the dehydration. Which sends me reaching for yet more sugar…
The Diet: 1) From the Ground or 2) Has a Mother
So for the last few days I have pretty diligently followed Jillian’s advice to eat only things that grew from the ground or had a mother. Seriously. Reading this book has really turned me off processed foods in a big way. The hormone disruption going on in our bodies from eating these non-foods is unreal! And I’m beginning to feel the rewards from my body from having avoided them for just a few days: I’ve already noticed less mood swings, better hydration, a better awareness of my appetite/satiety and better regularity. Having had Gestational Diabetes twice now it’s pretty safe to say I’m at risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes at some point and this actually isn’t too far off the diet I followed during my pregnancies. Having said that, I definitely used packaged foods, something I’m now trying to avoid.
So here’s a sample day’s menu (today’s menu, actually):
Breakfast:
Coffee with cream & sugar (I said I’m working towards a total shift… this will likely be the last vice)
3 Ryvita fiber crackers with natural peanut butter & a glass of milkLunch:
Grilled chicken breast, baby carrots, grape tomatoes, mixed berries, plain non-fat yogurt with mango purée (from fresh), edamame beans (photo above)Snack:
Apple, coffee #2 with cream & sugarDinner:
Basa filet with citrus salsa, steamed kale and brown/wild rice blend
There are a few non-natural foods that I haven’t given up: the ryvita crackers, sprouted grain bread, Grape Nuts cereal, sugar in my coffee, wine, chocolate, cheese… but then this is a process. I have to get much better in the kitchen if I’m ever going to figure out what to do with quinoa and bulgur. Plus, there are just some things I probably won’t give up in the end. But the way I see it, any shift away from processed foods, pesticides, plastics etc. that are messing with my hormones the better. I may never get to where I buy all organic and I may never stop using plastic (something Jillian advises against) but I will take baby steps.
I’m enjoying the challenge… and the rewards.
Happy Birthday Dad
Photo: Metro Theatre
Today I dedicate this post to my dad.
Growing up, my dad was the kind of dad who would do anything for his kids. I know he did many, MANY things he didn’t want to do and I know he worried more about me and my brother than he perhaps had to… because he loved us with a heart of gold.
My dad coached my brother’s soccer team for as long as I can remember and always made it to my games too. My dad encouraged me to sing when I was just tiny… long before my shyness or stage fright ever kicked in. My dad waited up night after night during my teen years even when he was the kind of person who would rather get up and start his day at 3am than end his day at 2am. My dad encouraged me to join the military; my dad taught me I can do anything I want to do with enough effort and dedication.
My dad took me skiing even though he wasn’t very good at it. My dad tried to convince me once there was a pancake day, but shhhh… don’t tell mom. My dad always had the stuff I decided I needed to do whatever build-it/fix-it/craft project I tried… he had a million tools. Not sure he even ever used any of them, but whatever… My dad took me on a moped when we were on our summer vacation and spent $1000 on an early VHS machine. My dad always seemed to know what to do when the car would break down at the side of the road… he probably just called AAA.
My dad used to teach school children. On my professional days sometimes he’d bring me to work with him… I loved it! I felt like a celebrity because I got to go in the staff room with the other teachers. My dad joined a band and decided he wanted to learn to play the tenor sax while I was learning to play the trumpet. Sometimes he would take me to sit in at his adult beginner band. At my own band concerts, my dad was the guy you could hear wolf-whistle at the end of every song… he still does.
My dad taught me some very valuable lessons including encouraging me to establish a career before settling down, getting married and having kids (in that order). My dad used to work really hard… I remember report card time. Any kid of a teacher knows about report card time… days and days of late nights and early mornings. I know he put his heart into knowing every one of his students. That’s just the kind of teacher he was. I remember waking up to his records… classical or jazz… my dad adores music.
My dad is 75 years old today.
He and my mom travel pretty extensively now – a few months every year. He also is an active member of his community and has become very involved in community theatre. In fact, he’s in a play called A Nice Family Gathering opening today at Metro Theatre Vancouver – he’s such a good actor I keep telling him he should get an agent and try for movie roles, but that’s probably more my dream for him than his… I’m so proud of him for filling his golden years with rich friendships, arts and the world. I’m so proud of him and my mom for being married to each other for nearly 50 years. I’m so proud of him for always thinking of me and my brother… and for choosing us.
Happy Birthday Dad. I love you.
I hope one day you’ll find the time or the inclination to write down all your wisdom to share with me… you know I missed most of it.