Happy Father's Day to Dad

I don't have many photos of my Dad.  I'm not even certain where I found this one, as I know I didn't take it, nor do I know where it was taken.  It's not a particularly good photo, a little blurred, but still is one of my favorites.  There is a sense of other-worldliness with the light shining onto him with a sense of his hands in motion on the keys.

Dad loved to play the piano though didn't get a lot of opportunity to do so.  Mom always yelled at him when he sat down to play so he had to wait until she was out of the house (usually on Sundays when she went to church).

I assume he could read music, as he had a couple of hymnals that he used.  I don't know when or where he took any lessons or if he was simply self-taught.  It wouldn't have surprised me if it were the latter.  He undertook the task of learning to read in French when he was sixty by using a dictionary and laboriously searching out every word.

Some of my earliest memories are standing beside Dad as he played, singing along to some of his favorite hymns.  There were several but my memory only recalls they included Flow Swiftly Sweet Afton and The Old Rugged Cross.  I can no longer recall the words of the first and only the first verse of the second. 

Dad passed away on September 15, 2008 at the age of 98. I'm sure there will be a celebration in heaven, though I suspect mom still won't allow him to play the piano.  Happy Father's Day Dad!  Thanks for the memories.

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I've invited my daughter, J and baby Eli over for dinner this evening.  We'll celebrate J's first Father's Day.   He too, plays the piano, so I'm sure he and Eli will create some wonderful memories together.