Happy Birthday Dad

Today is my father’s birthday and my favourite online greeting card company continues to remind that I should be sending a card and celebrating the passing of another year with him.

My father died from an aggressive form of Alzheimer’s disease just over two years ago. Since his death and for the last few years of his life, I have struggled to think of him without being overwhelmed by feelings of sadness and regret; sadness over the cruelness of the disease that stole his mind and later his body, sadness for the years lost, sadness that my husband never got the chance to meet the father I knew, sadness that my father will not know his grandchild (my beautiful nephew), regret for not being more present, regret for not cherishing our relationship more and regret for not appreciating him more when I had the chance.

But today I choose differently. Today I choose to remember him as he lived and not as he died, that is what he would have wanted and what he deserves. Today I choose to remember and honour the adventurer, the rule breaker, the free-thinker, the sportsman, the chef, the engineer, the comedian, the music fan, the life of the party, the compassionate humanitarian, the loving father, husband, son, brother, uncle and friend.

Happy Birthday Dad! May you remain as eternally joyful and peaceful as you were in life. Love, Emma xx