“You remind me of your dad.”
Or as I have heard it through the years “Tu me rappelles de ton pèrecomme deux gouttes d’eau!” (you remind me of your father like two drops of water!) This was a common observation from friends and relatives that have known my father Lionil from his youth to his passing in 1973. More than genetics, I believe what they saw was the character of a man in his children. My dad wanted a better life for his growing family. So, he looked for opportunities in the United States and found a manufacturer and a sponsor in Nashua. He counted the risk, took a chance and we immigrated to New Hampshire. My dad worked 2nd shift which gave us time together when we weren’t in school. From my boyhood, I have fond memories, of picking apples as a family from a local orchard, going on family picnics, and connecting with family in Quebec, Canada. Sundays was always a time together. In the early years, John, our sponsor, would join us and Dad would break out the harmonica and play a couple of “reels” tapping his feet. The Sunday gathering of friends and family continued until his passing. In his brief time here with us, my father Lionil left a lasting legacy found in the character of his children.
For me, I was fortunate to have two great men in my life that I called ‘dad’. One who modeled a caring father in my boyhood, the other who lead me through my days as a young man and father until his passing in 2010. The other man was Carl, my father-in-law. As Nancy would say her dad provided a sense of safety, a man of few words but rich in wisdom. Like my father, Carl would have a family gathering every Friday night. The ladies would have a game of “Canadian Rummy” and the ‘guys’ would have a game of Pool, or play a challenging round of Ping Pong. We would then break around the wood stove tell stories and laughing a lot! it was a time of connections with family and friends. Carl’s grand-children fondly remember “Friday Nights.” (they have their stories to tell about their ‘papa’). I credit Carl for giving me vision and encouragement as a man when “things didn’t quite make sense”. I like to think that he provided the missing oar in the water to help me steer through uncertain waters. When I ponder the words “You remind me of your dad” I think of it as a tribute to the character of the two men whom I have been privileged to have called dad.
To all the dads that help make a difference for their children and grand-children….Happy Father’s Day!
Ben