Helen's Home World: Dad

Showing posts with label Dad. Show all posts

Sunday, June 21, 2020

Happy Father's Day

My Dad, he loved airplanes, babies and dogs; not necessarily in that order. Happy Father's Day, Dad!

"I love my father and I love him well. A mind filled with memories weigh me down like gold!"

Father's Day Video

Video Music - Someday Soon by Alexi Murdoch

Sunday, June 16, 2019

Leader of the Band

Daniel H Stewart, Apr 1957

Video - Leader of the Band

Awhile ago I wrote about stories my mother told me and I thought I would do one about my dad too, except when I tried to think of stories about his life that he had told me I realized there weren't that many. That's kind of sad. And most of the stories I do know my mother told me.

My dad was a quiet person but he was always there for us especially when it came to driving us around. I was on a swim team in my teenage years and parents often had to drive us to swim meets. My dad drove so often that once our coach said and not Mr. Stewart again.

My dad was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba but was raised in New Brunswick, mainly around Saint John and Hampton. His mother moved back east with my dad and his brother when she left her husband. My mum said that they lived on the charity of family for quite some time. As kids we often said we wanted to live on a farm but mum said dad wouldn't like it as once he had been kicked by a horse named One Apple, since the horse only had one eye.

Danny and brother Alex

Danny on a pony

Danny with pet rabbit

Danny with his mother and father.

My dad left school in Grade 8, I'm not even sure he finished the grade. I think he worked at a grocery store for awhile and at Ganong's candy factory on the loading dock where he said he carried large bags of sugar. He joined the Ground Observer Corps and spent sometime in British Columbia. He joined the RCAF as a plotter and later was an Air Defence Technician (often called a radar operator or scope dope)

Danny Apr 1950

Cpl DH Stewart

Inspection Oct 1958, Dan Stewart on the phone.

Dad loved music especially classical and opera, my mum said it was surprising as he didn't likely have much exposure to that type of music in his youth. He loved Pavarotti, Josh Groban but especially he loved Sarah Brightman, who he always referred to as his "girlfriend". He also loved planes, everywhere we would go he would take pictures of any planes that he saw, he had a photo album just of pictures of planes. I'm sure if he had gone further in school he might have tried to be a pilot.

But how I remember my dad was on our family trips. He did all the trip planning and most all of the cooking, He was so organized about our trips that he even made a cabinet for the back of our Volkswagon bus and that was the pantry.

This is Us!

We took many a family trip and, of course, there were the postings what with dad being in the military, when I was young those moves happened about every three years. In his quiet way, Dad was always the leader of our little band.

Happy Father's Day Dad! I miss you!

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Wordless Wednesday

Monday, September 29, 2014

Mish Mash Monday

My sisters and me at the National Air Force museum for the dedication of this year's Ad Astra stones, including one for our father.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Throwback Thursday

My Dad and his great grandson, maybe the apple didn't fall far from the tree.

Thursday, May 31, 2012

For Daddy

Memorial to my Dad

The greatest things you gave me were not found in a store-
They were the things you could never pay for.
You gave me hope, compassion and love-
Things some kids can only dream of,
you gave me courage far stronger then I ever knew
so when I had to let you go,
To let you pass to a better place,
I some how managed to cope,
By remembering your gifts of love and hope.
Now you are safe, watching over us all down here,
And if I may, I have one last thing to say-
I want you to know how special it is for me to be a part of you
For you were the greatest man I knew!
So never forget your little girl,
The fun things we did, and the great times we had.
I will remember it all because you're my dad-
And know that I love you too!!!

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

True Colours - Silver

This week's challenge was to find something miniature in silver and tell a story about it. I have a little silver horse on my computer that was given to me by my youngest sister as a Christmas gift but I didn't think that made much of story.

So I decided to use a silver pin that I have from the Canadian War Museum. Not long after the museum opened, my parents came to Ottawa for a visit. My Mum was already dealing with Parkinson's. She tired easily and had difficulty walking so she decided to stay home while my Dad, my nephew, and I headed down for a visit to the War Museum. I had been told that the museum had a program for veterans so I asked at the desk if there was a discount for former members of the military. It turned out that former members of the Canadian Forces and up to two escorts were given free admission to the museum. I thought that was a nice gesture to give free admission not only to the veteran but also to the family or friends that accompanied them.

I thought there would be other visits to the museum with my Dad but this was our first and only visit together. It will be a year at the end of the month since he passed away. Maybe it's time for a another visit to the War Museum or perhaps the Aviation Museum.

The pin above is only one of many that I have from places I had visited. I'm sure there are others that would bring back a memory of my Dad.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Unfinished Business

My Dad had started doing a puzzle of the Avro Arrow at Easter when I was home. My sister Karen and I helped him out with the plane and the border. When we left, he said we had left him the hardest part.

At the time of his passing, the puzzle still was unfinished. We just couldn't leave it that way or simply put it back in the box so we decided to finish it for him. All my sisters, brother-in-laws, nieces and nephews had a hand in completing the puzzle for Dad.

Today, on Father's Day, my Dad would have been 80 years old.

Happy Birthday and Happy Father's Day, Dad!!!

The slide show was prepared by the funeral home with pictures we brought to them. It had different music but when my nephew uploaded it as a YouTube video, he found that they were copyrighted so he selected another piece.

In memory of my Dad

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Agility Blessing

May the tunnels not have too much suction,
May the course be fun and fast.
May your dog not stop to say "hello" to the photographers they pass!
May the table not be too slippery,
May the chute house no scary beasts,
May all the yellow parts be touched with one little toe, at least
May the wind be always at your back,
May no bars fall on the ground,
May the A-frame have no stop sign on the top,
May the judge's whistle never sound.
May your dog obey all correct commands,
And ignore the ones that are wrong.
May your heart be light, your feet be sure, and the bond with your dog grow strong.
At the finish line, may great joy abound, regardless of your score,
You have your dog, your dog has you, and who could ask for more?

Written by: PJ Hughes

What is a Title!

Not just a brag, not just a stepping stone to a higher title, not just an adjunct to competitive scores. A Title is a tribute to the dog that bears it, a way to honor that dog, an ultimate memorial. It will remain in the record and in the memory for about as long as anything in this world can remain. Few humans will do as well or better in that regard, and though the dog himself doesn't know or care that his achievements have been noted, a Title says many things in the world of humans, where such things count.

A Title says your dog was intelligent, and adaptable, and good natured. It says that your dog loved you enough to do the things that please you, however crazy they may have sometimes seemed. And a Title says that you loved your dog, that you loved to spend time with him because he was a good dog, and that you believed in him enough to give him yet another chance when he failed, and that in the end your faith was justified.

A Title proves that your dog inspired you to have the special relationship enjoyed by so few, that in the world of disposable creatures, this dog with a Title was greatly loved, and loved greatly in return. And when that dear short life is over, the Title remains as a memorial of the finest kind, the best you can give to a deserving friend, volumes of praise in one small set of initials before or after the name.

A Title is nothing less than love and respect, given and received, permanently recorded.

Written by Sandy Mowery, Wisconsin

The Last Battle

If it should be that I grow frail and weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done,
For this -- the last battle -- can't be won.

You will be sad I understand,
But don't let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.

We have had so many happy years,
You wouldn't want me to suffer so.
When the time comes, please, let me go.
Take me to where to my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me till the end

And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you will agree
It is a kindness you do to me.

Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.
Don't grieve that it must be you
Who has to decide this thing to do;

We've been so close -- we two -- these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.

Author Unknown

Beyond the Rainbow

As much as I loved the life we had and all the times we played,

I was so very tired and knew my time on earth would fade.

I saw a wondrous image then of a place that’s trouble-free,

Where all of us can meet again to spend eternity.

I saw the most beautiful Rainbow, and on the other side

Were animals of every sort as healthy as could be!

My own tired, failing body was fresh and healed and new

I wanted to run with them, but I had something left to do.

I needed to reach out to you, and tell you I’m alright

That this place is truly wonderful,

Then a bright Glow pierced the night.

Twas the Glow of many candles shining bright, strong and bold

I knew then that it held your love in its brilliant shades of gold.

For although we may not be together in the way we used to be,

We are still connected by a cord no eye can see.

So, whenever you need to find me, we’re never far apart,

If you look beyond the Rainbow and listen with your heart.

Do you think the time is right?

May I say goodbye to pain filled days and endless lonely nights?
I've lived my life and done my best, an example tried to be.
So can I take that step beyond, and set my spirit free?
I didn't want to go at first, I fought with all my might.
But something seems to draw me now to a warm and living light.
I want to go, I really do; it's difficult to stay.
But I will try as best I can to live just one more day.
To give you time to care for me and share your love and fears.
I know you're sad and afraid, because I see your tears.
I'll not be far, I promise that, and hope you'll always know,
That my spirit will be close to you wherever you may go.
Thank you so for loving me. You know I love you too,
And that's why it's so hard to say goodbye and end this life with you.
So hold me now just one more time and let me hear you say,
Because you care so much for me, you'll let me go today.

I Loved You Best

So this is where we part, My Friend,

And you'll run on, around the bend.

Gone from sight, but not from mind,

new pleasures there you'll surely find.

I will go on; I'll find the strength,

Life measures quality, not its length.

One long embrace before you leave,

Share one last look, before I grieve.

There are others, that much is true,

But they be they, and they aren't you.

And I, fair, impartial, or so I thought,

Will remember well all you've taught.

Your place I'll hold, you will be missed,

The fur I stroked, the nose I kissed.

And as you journey to your final rest,

Take with you this...I loved you best.

-Jim Willis

The Price We Pay

There is a cycle of love and death that shapes the lives of those who choose to travel in the company of animals.

It is a cycle unlike any other.

To those who have never lived through it's turnings and walked it's rocky path, our willingness to give our hearts with the full knowledge it will be broken seems incomprehensible.

Only we know how small price we pay for what we receive; our grief, no matter how powerful it may be, is an insufficient measure of the joy we have been given.

Suzanne Clother