A Day... For Expressing Gratitude

Happy Father's Day!!!

"Thank You... For the Music!" - oil on canvas 14x11 inches
A tribute of respect and gratitude to my Dad


Today is Father's Day.... a day set aside by families everywhere to recognize and honour those male co-heads of households who continually contribute their love... energy and life force every day throughout the entire year... and across a lifetime. They bring to a family strength and a male perspective... which combined with female side, enables children to enter the real world able to contribute and to receive gifts which reflect the environment and values of their communal home and upbringing.
The view of Gratitude that I mention in my post title above, I feel... is a two-sided. Today, I deeply feel the Gratitude I feel for my own Father. "He" was my Father... My Mentor and my Friend. He always attempted to talk across the table to "Me"... trying always to do so without scorn... shame or sarcasm... unless my actions deserved such. Simply put... he recognized my intelligence... my creativity and my absolute need to think freely and independently. That was his greatest gift to "Me." It was what persuaded and prompted me to always try lead my own families and my students in similar fashion. He led by his example!

The second face of my own view of Gratitude... is merely the Gratitude I hold deeply in my heart for the five uniquely beautiful children that I have been privileged to father. Each of them have been the greatest of blessings in my journey... and I cannot fathom life without their presence. They are my masterpieces! My paintings simply pale in comparison when compared. Each is a unique masterpiece... created somewhat from the contributions of their mothers and I... but more proudly on my view... each is quite simply unique and special because of their individual differences juxtaposed with their similar good and generous hearts and willingness to share their gifts with the world.

I know that my Dad (and my Mom) would share my pride today in seeing the footprint which their own many sacrifices and efforts helped shape in my children. Their gifts and values passed forward  to "Me" are now radiantly obvious in the achievements of Lisa, Allison, Andrew, Liam and Bryn. Today ... as I pause to reflect... and give thanks and show Gratitude to my Dad, and their Grampa... I reciprocally gives thanks and acknowledgement of my Gratitude to each of these beautiful young minds.

On this Father's Day... Sunday, June16th, 2013... "I" am deeply blessed!

I will close this post with a quote that I found while reading a special source of my own inspiration... past and present. It comes from The World According to Mr. Rogers ( Important Things to Remember) and reads:

" Actor Davis Carradine, son of John Carradine, said in gratitude of his father's accomplishments, " I could stand on his shoulders and feel twice as tall."
That each generation could stand on the shoulders of the last and feel twice as tall is a poetic hope for all our families.

A Happy Birthday for my first-born... Mona Lisa aka.... "Dolly-Dolly-Dumpkins, Queen of the Pumpkins"... artist, writer, Mother Extraordinaire, interior designer, floral arranger... now residing... crafting... B&B ing and mosaic- ing in the Barbados!

 Allison.... aka Ms Pig... In Venice, as we speak... here teaching her class at the Frari .

                                                                     "Rabbo Allison!" - teacher, writer, artist , chef, yoga enthusiast. painter, crafter... and generous spirit!

Andrew... aka Andyrewster... and Ms Tilly ... golfer, bowman, athlete, artist, now Ontario/GTA Rep for Thermal-Fisher (a division of OXO)

Liam... aka "Liam-pee 'em " (not pants!) about to Graduate high school in June... computer specialist/ builder/ programmer, painter, photographer and philosopher

Chef Bryn... aka "Mouse"... (now grown past that nickname)... woodworker, athlete, painter, sous chef more-than--worthy chess opponent and all around good guy - good pal

Can you see why I feel so blessed???

Rich blessings and Happy Father's Day!... to ALL Fathers out there.
Stand TALL!!!!... and Keep the faith!

Thank you Dad... and my beloved children for your unconditional life time gift of love!

Though we may travel very different paths in our outside lives, let us always hold hands... and remain together on the inside.