Fond memories and the importance of family

My fondest memory of my Dad was listening  to him tell me stories from the Bible. I don’t know anybody else that knew the Bible like my Dad.   He loved telling the stories because then he had our full attention.

My Dad loved flowers and planting things.  He just loved breaking off shoots for us and telling us to replant them.  He had green fingers, and because he had a passion everything grew. I still today have a Passion Fruit  tree and a lemon tree he planted out for me.

My Dad was very soft spoken and never  raised his voice to the kids. I remember he had a bit of a sarcastic  side to him, which we enjoyed because in a “friendly way”  the sarcasm was directed at my Mom. This made us laugh because it was not  malicious. My Dad loved visiting all his children.  He never wanted to leave early to go home. I think deep down my Dad was lonely. He craved love and attention. I am so sorry I did not do more for him. He loved music. He always asked me to play a CD for him, especially Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli.
 

Mom ruled the household and the family.  But she did keep us all together. Mom was always there for us. If we  had problems with our spouses, my Dad would load up our possessions  and move it to their house. My Mom would love it because she had one of her children back under her roof! 

Mom’s love for music was totally different to Dad’s. She loved Afrikaans love songs and Christian music. I have so many more memories but it  will take writing a book to get through them. Some are good and some  not so good. I loved having Mom visit me over a  weekend after Dad passed. Those were special times, because she really opened up to me about her life. She loved sitting at the dining room table while I baked her favorite muffins. 

My fondest memories of both my parents are of the last 7 years of their lives. We spent many days together.

The only negative feeling in my life is that they both did not leave us a letter or message. They left 5 children, 8 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren behind.  We all still miss them dearly.

I still look in Mom’s old purse for a message or note. I know it sounds strange but it is as if I have not had closure. Maybe one day.

Author: Lorraine van Heerden ,2nd eldest Sept 2009