Wednesday 29 April 2009

Way back and wordful Whensday


So you haven't heard mush about my dad, have you? Well, the truth is that I do not remember much of him, although what I do remember is so sweet that I guess I can live on it for a lifetime.

My dad passed away when I was 7 and he was 45, from his 4th heart attack. He suffered from a bloodvessel disease all his life and lived after 3 heart attacks and an aorta transplant at 40 - quite radical back in the 70's but off course, South Africa was the medical forerunners is the world - we did the first heart transplant.

I can not remember how his voice sounded - we have old home films, but off course there is no sound. I can remember his smell, his big kind hands and his scrubby cheeks. I can remember him playing games using heaps of imagination. I remember us painting together, playing with his model trains and building model cities. I remember small little vignettes, pictures from the past. I remember his size (he was 6 foot 7 inches tall). He was a great dad.

My mom jokes that she never had a child until after my dad passed away. Our personalities was a perfect match. I was so totally daddy's little girl. My dad was also a keen photographer, as I am, therefore I have very few pictures of the two of us. Today I share with you my absolute favorite - this must have been somewhere between 1971 and 1973, ( be between 3 an 5) and I remember the place vividly. This was the farm of my mom's cousins, Craigrossi, in Clarens, one of the most picturesque areas of South Africa. I just love the tenderness - this is how I will always remember my dad.

For some more blasts form the past go over to Cheryl's and play along and if like me, and Angie at 7 Clown circus's Wordful Wednesday you have to "talk" about your photographs, head over there to have a look as well.

18 comments:

  1. I'm so sorry, I never knew how young you were when your dad passed away. What a wonderful photo to have though of the two of you.

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  2. That was so sweet! I find myself weeping here. What a blessing to have a dad like that and a tragedy to have lost him so early. Sweet memories....thanks for sharing.

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  3. What a beautiful and touching picture and story. I am sorry you lost your father at such an early age. He sounded like a wonderful father!

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  4. What a great memory you have shared with us of your dad! Cute picture too!

    Happy WW!

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  5. what an absolutely beautiful photograph. such a sweet moment captured + frozen forever in time.

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  6. What a great way to remember him!

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  7. That is such a beautiful pic and one to cherish forever

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  8. what a beautiful photo and a beautiful memory.

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  9. Aww what wonderful memories of your dad. Beautiful picture.

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  10. What a FANTASTIC post! You always have the great Way Back When-esdays! Your kids will be so thankful for these types of posts when they are older. Thanks for sharing!
    Jill

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  11. Oh Cat---as if your words didn't have me weepy enough, then to punctuate them as you did with that ever-so-tender picture. What a lovely, LOVELY homage to a very big man...in stature and spirit.

    What a testimony to who he was that you have such vivid and happy memories.

    What a wonderful Way Back When-esday...thank you for playing along, Cat.

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  12. Wow, that was a beautiful tribute to your dad! I'm so sorry that you lost him at such a young age, but it sounds like you got wonderful memories to last a lifetime.

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  13. What a great memory! I'm sorry you had to lose your dad so young though; that's always very tragic.

    In the photo does he have a pigeon or dove in his hand?

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  14. Oh Cat! This was the most beautiful tribute post i think i have ever read about a parent. Just lovely.
    Your dad sounds like such a wonderful man who clearly made quite the impact on your life, even though he was only there briefly.
    Blessings on the Whens-day!

    ps Thank you so very much for supporting the Tuesday blog party! I can not wait to see what you are auctioning!!!!

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  15. Oh Cat...I had no idea you lost your dad when you were so young. What a beautiful photo.

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  16. What a wonderful tribute! I love that picture--I can see why you would treasure it so much! I love the fact that I also got my love of photography from my dad, even though he wasn't the one to teach me.

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