Fathers

One year ago this week, Dad and I spent a few days in Ottawa. It was the first of what I hope will become an annual tradition of father-son trips.

Two weeks ago, Dad gave us all a scare when he was hit with a heart attack. He was at his gym at the time. Personally, I find exercise can seem as excruciating as having a hear attack -- fortunately, my father is more savvy in spotting the differences; he quickly identified the symptoms and instructed his trainer to call 911. He was at the hospital having an angioplasty approximately 20 minutes later. He is now home and feeling great, and the doctors are commending the swift response time for the minimal damage to his heart. Even so, he will undergo bypass surgery later in the year. Jeanette and I had lunch with him and Mom last weekend, and it was amazing to see him looking so well. We may have to postpone this year's father-son trip, but I couldn't ask for a better reason to celebrate Father's Day than still having him with us.

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Sadly, we were not so fortunate last month. On May 25, Jeanette's grandfather (her mother's father), Robert Sterrit, passed away in Mount Forest, Ontario. We attended the funeral two days later in Harriston, and it was very moving to have the family gathered to remember him. Jeanette's cousin Dennis shared some heartwarming memories of being a kid on his grandpa's farm -- including a tractor-driving lesson that sent Bob flying off the lurching vehicle. Later, Jeanette's cousin Suzanne (below, with Grandma Melinda and Grandpa Bob in 2003) and her sister Nancy beautifully sang "Amazing Grace". It was a loving tribute to a much-loved man.

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Although the occasion was a sad one, we are always grateful for an opportunity to get up to Harriston and see the family. Especially so since Jeanette's father had recently had a birthday (this photo of Jeanette and her brother with their dad is from his birthday in 2004).

Despite the fact that it was his birthday (not to mention that Father's Day was hot on its heels), he couldn't resist an outpouring of generosity to us. Not only did he oversee the maintenance and cleaning of our car (we don't yet have a mechanic in Toronto), he made a generous contribution to our most recent life-improvement project: a balcony free of pigeons.

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To date, I have spared you from Jeanette's and my vitriol against pigeon poo. If you have ever had an apartment balcony, you likely know the annoyance endlessly trying to chase away these dirty birds. Jeanette theorizes (only half-jokingly, methinks) that I developed cancer from one too many times scraping up pigeon excrement. Well no more! This week we hired a company to power-wash the floor of the balcony and then to install netting the keep the birds at bay. Success! Our newly reclaimed patio now gleams, has a little container garden, and is fully furnished. We have spent most of the evening this week out there enjoying the warm weather and we look forward to a long summer of pigeon-free open-air lounging.

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We are spoiled to have such wonderful fathers in our lives. Thank you, Dads, for all that you do for us and all that you mean to us. Happy Father's Day!