Thank you for the rainbows, Daddy.

So today is the 13th anniversary of my Dad's death. It is strange how when you lose someone, some years the anniversaries are harder or more poignant than others. This year, there is a real bittersweetness to how I am feeling. In our time together on this Earth, our father/daughter relationship definitely had its ups and downs. But this year as I remember him, I feel the need to make a bit of a tribute to my Dad...to light the usual candle, to mark the day and to say a few things about him through this, my farthest reaching forum.

Daddy - Circa 1994

While blog visiting this morning, I can across Sherry's (Everyday Possibilities) post, where she was pondering the differences between living your life and experiencing your life. As I read the post, it came to me that that is the greatest gift that my father gave to me and to my two younger sisters. He taught us to experience life, not just live it.

Daddy and me - Circa 1969

Daddy and me - My High School Graduation - 1983

He taught us to smell the moss and lichen on the wooden paths we walked on. He made us watch the wide and beautiful wingspan of a hawk as it flew over our heads. He showed us the wonders of night skies filled with shooting stars, as glorious as any fireworks show. He would awaken us early on Sunday mornings to the sounds of Vivaldi's Spring, full blast ! Or encourage us to dance like mayday nymphs to the Stones' "She's Like A Rainbow" on the front lawn at the cottage.

(Magritte inspired Stained Glass by my Dad - hanging in my studio)

He reminded us to stop and enjoy the sweet touches of a warm summer breeze on your face or the cold tingly refresher that lake water gives your skin when you go night swimming . He taught us what food tastes like when it is made with love and with care for how it will feel in your mouth. He taught us to appreciate art and architecture and the splendors of nature's many landscapes. He taught us through his own love of all of these things. He taught us by example.

(My Dad's House - marker and ink drawing by my Dad 1978)

My Father taught us how to experience life through all of our senses and to acknowledge and appreciate the beauty of things all around us. What better lesson could any parent wish to teach their children ? He was far from perfect as a parent. What hope does any parent have of being perfect in this imperfect world ? But he taught us this one lesson so very perfectly. Experience life, my girls, experience life.

Here are a few of the hundreds Daddy Memory Tunes to experience, if you feel like it. Here's to you, beautiful Daddy, "Thank You, Father !"

Shes like a rainbow - Rolling Stones