dad

Today marks the fourth of my Dad’s “birthdays” where I am unable to physically share a hug with him.

49+ years of laughter, talk, sadness, goofy faces, silence, dinner, catz, ablutions, happiness, and all the other moments that wrote the novel of Us . . .

. . . "a photo says a thousand words", it has been said.

There are these times had.
Filled with love, living; they will
Never fade away.

Biking with my Dad:
At the edge of the tarmac,
Fishing for things lost.

I see you framed here,
Swift, as you stop your motion.
My inner circle.

Witness to moments,
Never before enacted.
Welcome to our time.

You stopped for us, deer,
At just the right time, and place.
It made my Dad smile.

Two bikes, two hours.
I collect these memories,
To ride them, in time.

This tricycle is a digital re-print of the two-colour ink-print my father James made as an announcement of my birth--crafted by his blessed, gifted hand(s)--and shared with Friends and Family at that time.

James and Charlene hand-picked me (Me!), and adopted me into--as a partner of--their Family in early May, 1968, two weeks (plus some change) after my physical birth.

I hold one of three (or so) copies of that original, and I have cared for it as I would my own hand.

I treat this avatar--my FB 'profile picture' as such, and am proud to hold it as mine.

My Father taught me everything I have come to understand as Art; through his creativity; through /his/ works; through his Love.

It is my honour to have the skill--one of these many gifts, imparted--to re-create this work of art, in this medium, and to display this as part of my Me.

I am so, so proud to be able to do so.

I am so, so gratified to have this understanding.

I am so, so happy to be a part of my Family.

Thank you Mom.

Thank you Dad.