Flashback Friday: My Dad

Nov 18, 2011 by cafebebemama

This is my Hubby and my Dad very early this morning, around 12:30am. They had just spent the past 2 hours struggling, swearing and sweating over the GORGEOUS new IKEA Hemnes bed which is now Ella’s “Big Girl” bed. My stepmom and I left them to it. They are the perfect pair. Mark gets cranky, Dad calms him down and encourages him and they love to work together. A beer is generally welcome and they accomplish pretty amazing things in the end.

This past week my Dad and Stepmom were here helping Mark and I (and Ella) to transform our two main rooms upstairs into gorgeous new havens. Ella’s Big Girl Room is still in need of some decoration and accessorizing but she’ll be sleeping in it tonight. 3 1/2 years ago my Dad came over from America to help us prepare Ella’s nursery so it was only appropriate that they would come back to help us get ready for Bebe.

My Dad and I have always been close. I guess it’s that “Father/Daughter” thing. I have always looked up to my Dad and learned a great deal from him. It makes me sad to be 4000 miles away from him, particularly as he’s retired now and has more free time. In retirement, however, I think that my Dad is busier now than he was when he was working. My dad was a P.E. (sport) teacher and coach and then became an Administrator/Principal (Head Teacher) towards the end of his career. My Dad was even MY P.E. teacher when I was in Middle School which was both a bonus and a curse. I was “Mr Morley’s” daughter but it wasn’t a hardship…most of the kids thought Mr Morley was pretty cool.

Now that he has retired, he hasn’t missed a step. Not only is he extremely active in his church, he volunteers his time with various causes in our hometown and is still an extremely dutiful son to his Mom (my Grandma). My Dad cared for my Grandpa (his Dad) until his last breath and I know he misses him terribly. In addition to all of the volunteer work he does, my Dad started a side business making golf clubs and giving golf lessons. He’s gotten to a point (thanks to advice from Mark) where he’s making a tidy profit on his well-crafted clubs. It’s his “slush fund” and he LOVES what he’s doing now.

It was wonderful to have my Dad and Stepmom here, if only for a week. They helped me to get organised, made light work of everything and had the opportunity to do something for the Bebe and Ella as well. This makes them feel good to be a part of it and that makes us happy as well. Today they head back to the US to get ready for new adventures and eventually, celebrate Thanksgiving next week. Hopefully we’ll be able to get back to the US next summer as it will have been three years since we’ve been back. 4000 miles is a very big distance indeed.

Today I’ll be tidying the house, playing with Ella and continuing the decorating in preparation for Bebe’s arrival TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY. Thankfully my Mom will be arriving on 14 December and my Sister-in-Law and her children arrive on 16 December so we’ll have more family to entertain us. But for today I’ll be missing my family a bit and being a bit sad…share your memories of friends, family and other wonderful things on the linky below.