August 16th 2009 would have been my Dad's 86th birthday so I thought in honor of him, I would celebrate his life today on my blog:
It's hard to just pick a few memories to share with you but I'll try.
I feel so proud and blessed to be the daughter of Dudley Osborn Stewart. He has taught me so many things in my life.
He taught me to love dogs. He loved them so much and would say "the only thing wrong with dogs is that they just don't last long enough".
He taught me how to sail. He loved to go fast out there on the water. The best time to do this was right before a storm was coming and the wind was whipping. He would take the little Sunfish sail boat and just fly - with a big smile on his face. This was his favorite time to sail.
He taught me practical stuff to, like how to grease a car. He would make me guide him while he drove the old Chevelle up the homemade wooden ramps. Then we would grease all the fittings and set the timing too. I didn't really do much, but Dad just wanted me to be there to "help".
How to have fun. My dad absolutely LOVED to have fun. One time he was involved in a "point wide" water fight that included ALL the kids on Hartson Point. It was him against the world that day and we all ended up soaked and in the lake. What a blast we had.
He taught me to love nature. Whether it was walking in the fields behind our house with his dog or hiking up the glen behind the cottage. How I treasured those hikes and the things he would point out to me. He would always find the willow trees in the early spring and say "watch those ones because when they start to turn yellow then spring will come". I also know the names of most backyard birds thanks to him and my mom too.
He taught me to love the lake with all my heart. The lake was his place. It was where he spent all of his summers as a kid. It was the most peaceful place I can think of. It's where family gathers to share fun times and make lasting memories. It is still my heaven on earth and even though my dad is gone, I still feel close to him there.
I hope I can pass along to my kids the fun, wisdom, kindness and love he always showed me. Happy Birthday Pa, I miss you!
Mary
ps all of the black & white photos were originally printed from glass negatives
5 comments:
Oh Mary, what a very sweet post. You have honored your Pa so well. It is a special day for me too, because you see it is my dear sweet hubby's birthday as well :-) Great guys have the same birthdays.
Wonderful post Mary. ;o)
What a sweet sweet post. I miss my dad so much too. I love the photos. Love the pics of the old cars and the one of you and your dad.
What a great post! Thanks for the tribute♥
Mary, this is beautiful. I'm so glad to have been able to read it. He sounds like a wonderful man.
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