It wasn’t a secret that I felt closer to my dad growing up than I did my mom. Growing up dad and I used to take road trips back and forth between Calgary and Spokane for various doctor appointments as strange as that may seem I loved the time we spent together and bonding during our travels.
He would sit with me after the various operations I went through and at one time traveled all the way to Spokane to get me after the doctors decided against doing surgery on my left foot to remove a bunion because I couldn’t wiggle my toes which was necessary for it to be successful. My dad always used to say that I was a very entertaining person who kept him on his and mom’s toes.
I think I added a few grey hairs with some of the stunts I pulled resulting in my mother to add medical tape to my leg cast which unfortunately the reason for her doing that escapes me. I just have a vivid memory of sitting on my parent’s bed and watching my mom wrap it up.
There was a time where I think I really scared the crap out of my dad, it was the day before we were to make the trip out to Calgary to get my cast removed from my left arm.
Apparently the swelling went down so much that during the night the cast had slipped off and landed on the floor. I remember picking it off the floor and going to the living room where dad was sitting in his favourite chair reading a book. I had a habit of not talking when I entered a room so when my father looked up and saw me with something in my hand and my arm at my side I think the hair at the back of his neck went up and he jumped when he noticed the cast in my right hand.
The ruckus brought my mom and sister from upstairs to see what had happened, I’m pretty sure I had caused him to have a few grey hairs.
We went to Calgary as scheduled and my parents let me keep my cast as gross as that sounds now that I’m a parent and went through the same thing with Jayson wanting to keep his cast decades later I have to give credit to my mom for not throwing it out sooner than she did.
I can’t remember ever a time where my dad wasn’t penning a new poem. His inspirations came from everywhere mostly life experience. It wasn’t until 9 years ago when he retired and both my parents moved to Grand Forks that he decided to write his first book Stories that Rhyme and Sometimes Amuse.
My father inspired me to write, some have said I have a talent for it and I should publish my stories. I’m not sure about that, most of my stories are child base as that’s where my mind seems to go to maybe some day I would get the courage to do it but for now I am writing stories for when my children have their own babies.
To be honest I haven’t really written a story for a very long time either the ideas haven’t really been there or like most people too busy raising children and making excuses not to do it.
I think it has to change though for there is a story in me that needs to be told I’ve just had a hard time wording it properly.
When the kids were much younger I used to tell them stories at the top of my head most of the time I would remember the exact wording I used for each one, however heaven help me if I forgot a plot in a story because Jayson would be quick to point it out.
I have many stories that need to be told and now perhaps this may be the time to tell these stories, maybe even carry on with my father’s legacy and love of writing.
A few years back when Jayson was younger and had the terrible habit of picking his nose until was raw, so dad wrote him a song.
Sung to the tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It.

BOOGERS 
Ya got a booger in your nose whatta ya do?
Ya got a booger in your nose whatta ya do?
Ya got a booger in your nose, and you know for sure it shows
Ya got a booger in your nose, here’s what you do!
You put your finger in and wiggle around
You put your finger in and wiggle around
You put your finger in and you give a great big grin
Oh you put your finger in and bring it down!
Then you shake it real hard back and forth
Then you shake it real hard back and forth
So you shake it real hard but the booger’s stuck like lard.
So you wipe it on your shoe, and stomp the floor!
So you stomp it on the floor and it smears in,
So you stomp it on the floor and it smears in,
So you stomp it on the floor, and your mother yells, ” NOMORE”!
So you run off to your room with a big grin!

I think of my dad a lot, I feel blessed for the time I had with him even though I wish everyday I had had more time.
Unlike Kevin who’s dad passed away so suddenly from a heart attack in his sleep never really got the chance to spend any time with him or say goodbye.
I talk to dad almost as much as I talk to God, perhaps more.I haven’t kept up with reading the bible like I used to however God still comforts me in my darkest days.
It has really helps that I have a fantastic family who as much as they can drive me crazy I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Until next time