Raising a glass to you on your Birthday, my dear Dad!

You have a beautiful great-grand daughter, Dad, born January 27, 2013 - baby Scarlett.  Life continues and so does your family and your legacy.  Your grandson, Jamie, who has grown up into a fine young man, is now a proud Daddy.  A happy time as the circle of life continues... we all love you and think of you often.

Choosing a Christmas tree for our home every year was always a challenge.  I remember going out with my Dad and my younger brother, Johnny; usually parking and disembarking along Surluga Road.

We were always looking for a specific type of tree, as requested by my mother.  It needed to be tall and narrow, not too full, and "just right".  Of course, Johnny and I would want to pick the first tree we came across that might fit the description, just to avoid trudging any farther into the deep snow and  freezing all of our extremities.

Whenever Johnny and I would suggest that, "this is the one!", Dad would always say in his heavily Russian-accented English, "Mama don't like!"  It would take quite a long time until the "right one" was found; we felt very victorious when we finally heard my Dad say, "Mama like!"  At last!  We had our family Christmas tree!  And more importantly, we could go home and get warm!

I remember as a young child waltzing with my dad by standing on his feet and twirling around the room.  No matter how tired he was after a day's work, if I asked him, he would always make time to waltz me around the room to the sounds of my delighted laughter.  Such good memories of a fun and patient father - I will hold them with me forever.

My Dad had the greatest laugh!  You couldn't help but laugh with him, even when his sense of humour was a little "off-colour".  He could find something humourous in many situations. I miss his laughter ... I think that we should always remember to laugh a little each day, just like my Dad always did.

Even when his eyesight and his body were failing him, he would find something funny or clever to say about the situation to make us smile.

"They say it is impossible to be perfect but I say who are 'they'. He said to me "Promise to be brothers forever!" I said,"yes, Daddy!" again and again, hugging and kissing, and kissing and hugging and shaking hands ... barely a week and a half ago.

He was always thinking on his feet, even when laying down, my beautiful Daddy. 
I always knew he was proud, modest, and able to adapt instantly to just about any situation. He told me that he was ashamed that I had to take care of him when we became roommates only once and I told him not to be, and then that was that. He was ever stoic when I think of him and think I will ever of him, my perfect Daddy. 

Being introspective again in Wawa,

George

I am so grateful for the loving care my brother, George, gave to our father in the last year of his life.  George chose to keep our dad at his home, rather than have him go to the hospital, looking after him day and night.  It wasn't easy, especially in the last few months when my Dad needed constant care.  I appreciate so much what George has done for all of us, knowing that our Dad was being well taken care of.  George gave to my Dad, so selflessly, all of his attention and love in a familiar place, which allowed Dad to keep his pride and dignity in the last part of his life.  What a precious gift!

I love you George!

Nicht trauern wollen wir,

dass wir Dich verloren haben,

sondern dankbar sein,

dass wir dich gehabt haben.

                      (Hieronymus)

Dad spent many hours playing his organ - he enjoyed making music and encouraged his grandkids to play music by giving them a flute, accordian, trumpet, piano, and a conch shell from Hawaii (anything that would make a noise!)

Dad had not seen his brother for over 37 years since he had left Russia.  After the war, he was not able to return to Russia and lived in Germany.  They were able to meet again when his brother, also named George, came to Canada for the first time.  It was a wonderful reunion.  Dad shared all of the things he loved to do with his brother, such as hunting, fishing and blueberry picking in his adopted land - Wawa, Ontario, Canada.

No trip to Calgary would ever be complete for Dad without a trip to the Calgary Zoo, Drumheller Dinosaur Museum and various other museums.  Dad always loved to explore and, of course, that would always fit in with what the grandkids wanted to do! Many great memories!

I've always loved this picture of my Dad when he was a young man in Europe.  At home in his element, the outdoors, and dreaming of all the possibilities out there.  Forever an optimist - I've always admired that about him.

This poem helped me.  I hope you can find solace in it too.
Lots of love to you in this time of mourning. 

All Is Well 

Death is nothing at all, 
I have only slipped into the next room 
I am I and you are you 
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. 
Call me by my old familiar name, 
Speak to me in the easy way which you always used 
Put no difference in your tone, 
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow 
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together. 
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. 
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was, 
Let it be spoken without effect, without the trace of shadow on it. 
Life means all that it ever meant. 
It it the same as it ever was, there is unbroken continuity. 
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? 
I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, 
Just around the corner. 
All is well. 

By Henry Scott Holland (1847-1918)