Today my earthly father turns 70. My heavenly father gave us the past year to cherish and adore him. Thank you Lord! The following are little notes I have been scribbling in the past weeks as I reflect on my dad.
You are the model on how a man, husband, father and dad should exist in this world. A good provider, respectful spouse, loving and devoted dad. Happy 70th Birthday Daddy!
To Dad: You taught me that it is OK to be quiet because my actions will show who I really am. You are not a talker, you are a doer, and your creativity, innovation and pure genius still amazes me. Happy 70th birthday Missa P.
I remember how you would always take back a gold jewel for me when you went on your overseas trips. I would always lose my trinkets because I refuse to take them off on our weekly trips to the beach. When I lost them and would start crying endlessly, you would not blame or spank me but you would promise that next time I would get another.
You were always on time. During my boarding school days I could always depend on you to keep all your promises to pick me up early and visit often.
Dad, you cook the most delicious meals. Your children were never hungry. Through your food and stories from your travels, you exposed us to a world that was far beyond our little rural village in Jamaica.
How can I forget your celebrity phases? As a young child I would see you on the verandah kicking and chopping and pretending that you were Bruce Lee. In the evening, you would grab your guitar and start playing and singing your favorite Elvis Presley tunes. You even wore your hair like Elvis Presley. At other times you would drop a few John Wayne one liners. I loved every moment of it. I love you!
As a young girl I could not understand why you would rather walk away from an argument than get aggressive and fight. Men fight, right? Wrong. Later I learnt that you would walk away but would return to the person you were in conflict with at a later time and talk it out. Not only do I understand that now but I truly appreciate it. Real men talk it out!
You are still struggling with that accent. A unique mix of Jamaican patois with Chinese language. I hope you don't mind me mimicking you occasionally when I make jokes about your- "Flied Lice" (Fried Rice); "Flying Pan" (Frying Pan) and "Lumber Leven Mango" (Number Eleven Mango).
It was not easy for you to marry outside of your race. From you I learnt the value of diversity and the truth that love can conquer race, ethnicity and class. Your interracial marriage not only produced beautiful multiracial children. It provided us with life lessons that are becoming more and more relevant in this dynamic and diverse world.
I love you dad, and when I told you this on the phone a few minutes ago you never reciprocated and said "I love you Chris". I don't think you have ever told me that, and truthfully I did not expect you to this time. These notes are testament to the fact that you were never a talker, but your actions told me that you loved us all immensely all the time. THANK YOU!!
You are the model on how a man, husband, father and dad should exist in this world. A good provider, respectful spouse, loving and devoted dad. Happy 70th Birthday Daddy!
To Dad: You taught me that it is OK to be quiet because my actions will show who I really am. You are not a talker, you are a doer, and your creativity, innovation and pure genius still amazes me. Happy 70th birthday Missa P.
I remember how you would always take back a gold jewel for me when you went on your overseas trips. I would always lose my trinkets because I refuse to take them off on our weekly trips to the beach. When I lost them and would start crying endlessly, you would not blame or spank me but you would promise that next time I would get another.
You were always on time. During my boarding school days I could always depend on you to keep all your promises to pick me up early and visit often.
Dad, you cook the most delicious meals. Your children were never hungry. Through your food and stories from your travels, you exposed us to a world that was far beyond our little rural village in Jamaica.
How can I forget your celebrity phases? As a young child I would see you on the verandah kicking and chopping and pretending that you were Bruce Lee. In the evening, you would grab your guitar and start playing and singing your favorite Elvis Presley tunes. You even wore your hair like Elvis Presley. At other times you would drop a few John Wayne one liners. I loved every moment of it. I love you!
As a young girl I could not understand why you would rather walk away from an argument than get aggressive and fight. Men fight, right? Wrong. Later I learnt that you would walk away but would return to the person you were in conflict with at a later time and talk it out. Not only do I understand that now but I truly appreciate it. Real men talk it out!
You are still struggling with that accent. A unique mix of Jamaican patois with Chinese language. I hope you don't mind me mimicking you occasionally when I make jokes about your- "Flied Lice" (Fried Rice); "Flying Pan" (Frying Pan) and "Lumber Leven Mango" (Number Eleven Mango).
It was not easy for you to marry outside of your race. From you I learnt the value of diversity and the truth that love can conquer race, ethnicity and class. Your interracial marriage not only produced beautiful multiracial children. It provided us with life lessons that are becoming more and more relevant in this dynamic and diverse world.
I love you dad, and when I told you this on the phone a few minutes ago you never reciprocated and said "I love you Chris". I don't think you have ever told me that, and truthfully I did not expect you to this time. These notes are testament to the fact that you were never a talker, but your actions told me that you loved us all immensely all the time. THANK YOU!!
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