Father’s Day - Honouring My Dad

In honour of my Dad ("Pops") and Father's Day, I am highlighting his handyman skills.

For 17 years we lived in a house that was built in 1910.

For 17 years we lived in a house that was being renovated.

Granted, the house was big, but renovations went on and on until we finally moved out. Now, as an adult, I reflect on his varied skills, and choice to be a life-long learner, and I am in admiration. One of the best things I learned from him and Mom was that a person could attempt fixing/building something 3 times and it would still be cheaper to do it yourself than hire someone.

Of course, there were times when all he wanted to do was light a match and run to different country.

When it came to renovating, I never knew what state the house would be in when I returned home from school. It was obvious that demolition was more fun and faster than rebuilding, so the destruction would often occur haphazardly until Mom came home and made Dad hang up plastic partitions between rooms.

He did everything: electrical, plumbing, carpentry, structural modifications, plastering, painting, and designing. The designing was always questioned because of his colour blindness. But honestly, I do wonder how many people today who have the courage and patience to attempt all of these aspects of renovating, all by themselves, without training. Dad learned to deal with anything relating to the house.

Such as the time when the toilet wouldn't flush.

As part of the renovation, Dad decided to rebuild the second floor deck. Uncles offered to help and came to stay at the house with their wives, my aunts. It was a massive affair. Unfortunately, it also involved masses of food and hence, great demand on the bathroom plumbing. At one point in the weekend, one of the aunts came out of the bathroom, red faced, exclaiming, "The toilet will not flush!"

After some fussing with the toilet by Dad, it flushed, but a day later the whole scene played out again, with the same aunt. Now it was my Dad who was red faced - with anger and embarrassment.

Dad would always complain, "How can I soar like an eagle when I'm surrounded by turkeys?" It often reflected his frustration with communication and courtesy. In this instance, he was held accountable for he toilet visit experience. I think he wanted everyone to just go away.

After everyone finally retreated to their own homes, with their own bathrooms, Dad announced that he'd lost his bracelet; Mom challenged him and asked if he'd lost it down the toilet. He was incensed - "Of course not!" he retorted.

The next day, Mom returned home from work to find the water in the house turned off and Dad's head in the toilet. No, he wasn't drowning his sorrows; the whole toilet was off its base. He was pulling it apart, once again, to, once again, figure out what was wrong. Mom was perplexed - what else could be done? But they were so worn out from the weekend’s events.

When Dad pulled his head out of the toilet he was, once again, red faced -- this time with embarrassment because in his hand was his bracelet. Having pulled the whole system apart, he discovered it just inside the base of the toilet bowl, where the contents would be flushed away.

He put the toilet back together. I can't imagine ever pulling my toilet apart in this way, and I'm a do-it-yourself person (can you guess where I get it from?).

Years later, when we were about to move, I helped clean up that bathroom. Finding the bracelet stuffed away in the vanity, I turned to Mom and said, "You should wear this!" She scrunched up her nose and said, 'No Thanks." And that is when she told me this story.

I have enormous admiration for my Dad's skills. He was a do-it-yourselfer with everything, including the computer, and he was always interested in being on the cutting edge of technology. This story is intended to be a little salute to my Dad, who I hope understood how much in awe his kids were of him. It is with great sadness that my ever-growing family celebrats Father's Day without him. He could be an awful curmudgeon, but he was also soft as a marshmallow, inside, and I miss everything about him.

(Inspired by Scarlettohairy, Barney's Daughter)

My Dad was famous for

• wearing a shirt with an eagle on it that said "I'm smiling, can't you tell?"
• having a bigger heart than bank account -- generosity was his first name and he taught his children to be the same way.
• living with a concern for integrity and teaching us to do the same.
• being scary: others thought he was scary because he said what he meant and he meant what he said.
• for his worldliness and knowledge - and he was a truck driver, so there!
• for caring deeply, his easy smile, and his love for his family.
• for wanting us to feel pride in our existence.

He was legendary in how he lived. I aim to keep his characteristics alive through my own life.

I LOVE YOU, DAD!

You know, we always assume that the word "Dad" stands for someone worth honouring. This isn't always the case. Take this opportunity to share your "Dad" world with the rest of us. Be he wonderful or a scoundrel, honour your own experiences by telling us all about it.