So glad you’re here…
It seems somehow appropriate that Daffodil Day and Father’s Day are so close together. For me, these two days have become closely intertwined.
Ever since I was a small girl, I have celebrated the arrival of Spring. The appearance of the daffodils always gets me singing “Tra-la-la-la-la, Tra-la-la-la-la” and dancing around like a happy thing. For me, daffs are the ultimate symbol of hope – that the long, hard slog of Winter will soon be over and the warmth and brightness of Spring is just around the corner. The Cancer Council couldn’t have picked a better symbol.
You see, my Dad battled cancer (non-Hodgkins lymphoma, if you must know) and nearly lost. Nearly… Whilst I realise that so many others are not so fortunate (and my deepest sympathy is with you), each Daffodil Day and Fathers Day remind me of how lucky and thankful I am to still have my Dad around.
This Daffodil Day / Fathers Day combination also reminds me of some of the most important things in life – the things I could only have learned by having gone through that Winter of Dad’s cancer, and have him come through it to experience the new life of Spring. The real things… The things I am truly grateful for…
- It reminds me of the importance of family – of how my sister and I, together with Dad’s brothers and sisters, kept him going through a really rough 48 hour, post-surgery period, holding his hand and literally willing him to live.
- It reminds me of the power of love – of how his partner of less than 6 months stayed by his side through all his long treatment (she is now his wife).
- It reminds me of the magic of wishes – of whispering in his ear, that one day he would make a terrific grandfather – when he well knew a grandchild was still a long way off.
- It reminds me of the requirement for patience – of waiting, waiting, waiting for a positive test result – day after day after day.
- It reminds me of the value of little things – of the cheerful, brightly coloured posters I would send to him each week (I was living interstate at the time) to cheer his horrendously miserable, dirty pink hospital room. Honestly, how do they expect people to get well with that gloom around?
- It reminds me of the power of dreams – to travel, to explore, to just enjoy life – this kept you going Dad, I’m sure.
- It reminds me to be brave – to make real change in our world and to encourage others to do the same – not just for our generation, but for generations to come. Since Dad’s recovery, he has been working on a special project to help us find ways to reduce our impact on the environment AND he’s been putting it into practice!
- It reminds me of how special and important my Dad is to me – for I have looked into the face of a life without my Dad, and the pain is unbearable. I may not see him as much as we would both like, but I really enjoy his company. I want him to be around for a long time to come. I want him to spend time with that grandson I promised him back then, telling him stories and sharing his knowledge and experience (but you can spare us the Little Willie jokes, OK Dad!)
- Most of all, it reminds me to be grateful for my life, and to treasure it, in all its wondrous beauty.
Love you Dad! So glad you’re here…
This Story Starter Challenge is a special Fathers Day edition. The theme was “I am grateful for…” and “Dad”. Why are you grateful for your Dad? Link up your post using the Linky below, leave a comment below or send us an email and we’ll pop your story up in our Your Stories section of the website.
Next week we’re back to normal. The Challenge comes from our Life Story Starters conversation cards – the cards chosen were “I will be remembered for…” and “Food”.
Share your Story Starter Challenge posts here…
Powered by Linky Tools
13
liselle says:
August 31, 2011 at 2:05 pm
Oh.. you have me in tears. I lost my beautiful dad to same lymphoma two years ago and not a day goes by i don’t think of him. I will have a beer on father’s day to remember the daddy who brushed (and cut – badly!) my hair as a child, the hero who shushed away my bad dreams. The amazing man, left widowed with toddlers, who never considered giving us up. I was honoured to return the favour when he got ill, bringing him home to live and die in our home. There are still days i forget and think, just for a second, ‘oh i must tell dad that’. I see him everywhere.. especially my two boys. Miss you, dad xxx
Cath says:
August 31, 2011 at 2:17 pm
Now you have me in tears. I do know how lucky I am that Dad survived, but this has just confirmed it! *hugs*
Happylan says:
September 2, 2011 at 12:13 pm
This is such a lovely post, so true about the ‘real’ things that we all need reminding of at times. Glad your dad beat the big C, sounds like he is equally lucky to have had such a great support network. x x
katesaysstuff says:
September 2, 2011 at 2:30 pm
What a beautiful post.
I love the daffodils too, and I’m so glad your Dad is here to know how much you appreciate him.
Thanks for linking up!
Madmother says:
September 3, 2011 at 10:50 am
I lost my Dad to cancer 11 years ago. I still miss him every day.
So glad you still have yours.
I’m here from Weekend Grateful.
Kellie @ Three Li'l Princesses says:
September 3, 2011 at 2:45 pm
Oh, you’re making me think about Father’s Day in a whole new light. What a beautiful, poignant post! xx
mums the word says:
September 3, 2011 at 5:10 pm
beautiful post! I love daffodils too~ to me they sing spring has come~! Im so glad your Dad won the battle and is here to celebrate fathers day xx
Cindy says:
September 4, 2011 at 12:49 am
What a lovely post. You are one of the lucky ones. Enjoy your Sunday with your father.
Cath says:
September 4, 2011 at 9:23 pm
Thanks everyone for dropping by. I had a lovely afternoon tea catch up with Dad this afternoon. I really am a lucky girl!
Life In A Pink Fibro says:
December 3, 2011 at 9:17 am
Beautiful post! I’m glad he’s here too!
Visiting via the Rewind.
Lucy says:
December 4, 2011 at 3:13 pm
Gorgeous.
I lost my Dad 20 years ago. I struggle with the fact that he is not here – so glad yours is!
Thank you for linking up via the Weekend Rewind.
Dad says:
August 24, 2012 at 8:23 pm
I just saw this article today. Thank you and I know that next week, “spring will have sprung” and it will be just like that first spring day of school when you woke up and said “it is going to be a lovely day”, and it was, as if you had command over the seasons.
There is no doubt you still have that way with words, which I will never have, and I break with pride to see that lovely turn of phrase you always create.
I look forward to many days of many springs to come and see Daffodil Day the precursor of the new life each year brought about by spring. Love Dad X
.
Cath says:
August 25, 2012 at 3:01 pm
Thanks Dad. May there be many more Daffodil Days to celebrate! xx