I went to Dad’s room and something caught my eye. There on his desk was a painting propped up on its frame. It made me smile – when I was 14, I had painted these ducks and I had given it to Dad, at the same time shy (‘what if he didn’t like it?’) and proud (I hoped it was good enough).
Dad brought it to his office where it sat proudly – perhaps to his colleagues it was just a clumsy watercolour, easily overlooked, but to Daddy, ‘my daughter painted it for me.’ =)
It’s Dad’s birthday today. My childhood hero is past 60 years now; something I would have never imagined at 14. When you’re 14, ‘Dad’ is the strapping tall man who loved deep sea fishing, worked too hard, fixed anything that needed fixing, played a competitive round of golf, and loved his family fiercely. He could do anything he set his mind to. In fact, perhaps this hasn’t changed with time at all :)
Today, it warmed my heart to know that this painting made its way back home when Dad retired, yet still remains at a special place. Happy Birthday Dad, with much love – we are all so proud of all that you are.
Hugs and bubbles,
JJ
