Only Me and My Father
This Dad's day weekend is a big one in our family. June 19th we will commemorate the wedding of our child. It is likewise the birthday of my daddy, who would be celebrating his 87th birthday if he hadn't died at the age of 39. He died in an awful storm on June 30th, 1967-- 48 years ago. I was almost 6 years old.
I keep in mind little of what life was like prior to that sad evening, but I'm so grateful for a very special memory that I think taken place quickly before he passed away.
My father had actually obtained an extremely damaged canoe and rebuilt it. It was pale blue in color. He had actually also built a carrier that allowed him to stroll down the street, pulling the canoe which was placed on a cart made from two bike tires. My papa was an engineer and extremely creative!
I keep in mind clearly that summertime early morning he quietly shocked me at daybreak. Waking simply me and not my sibling in the bunk listed below for what I would now call a daddy-daughter date. With five children, this was an unusual moment, and I think it was the only time that I had a one on one with my papa.
We walked to Northwood Lake at the bottom of Ensign street in the village of New Hope, Minnesota. The canoe could move from the carrier to the water. I got in the front and my dad in the back. He gave me short direction on the best ways to utilize the paddle. The morning was so lovely and quiet. The birds, motion of water and tall grasses was all that broke the calm. It was the most peaceful time I can remember in my youth. I'm exceptionally thankful for the dad he was which time with his kids was very important to him.
