My Dad

Today is my father’s birthday and even after 18 years since his passing I miss him very much. In many ways he was my true north, the compass by which I lived my values and the only person I truly looked up to for his knowledge of the world, his values and morals and last but not least his truly magnificent sense of humour.

I remember when Dad first started telling us about John Steinbeck’s various books and how he described Danny’s exploits in Tortilla Flat. Many years later in our book club a friend said she had a hard time finding it funny to read about drunks. I took up the book and read a paragraph or two and the friend laughed and said “well, when you read it like that I can see the humour”. Sometimes we just have to think a little outside our comfort zones to see another side to the story.

Dad had flaws like any human being but one thing is certain, he was a great father and I count myself lucky that I had two outstanding parents who gave us their all. I think one of the most remarkable things about my dad (and I know I have written about this before) but he was very forward thinking when it came to women’s rights and from a very young age, about 7, Dad said to me that I shouldn’t look at “women’s jobs” such as nursing or a teacher – I had what it took to be a “professional” such as a doctor, lawyer or engineer. In those days women were only very, very slowly getting into those careers. I’m talking the late ‘50’s.

Another thing he didn’t actually talk about but our family seemed unconsciously imbued with a very Danish sense of everyone being equal. I can truly say that I have never felt inferior because I was an immigrant or female. Some of that may simply be due to my first language, Danish. Linguistists may support my opinion that language bears a part in creating who we are and Dad made sure that we always spoke Danish in the home.

I just want to celebrate the wonderful father my Daddy was. I miss you so much!