For My Dad
This article is for my dad. I probably could have written something about Magnus’s birthday that was last Sunday (wow, I can hardly believe he is 4!), or the work on the pageant play that we have been doing, or the fantastic new product Felice and I have come up with, (look for it in my next article), but when I was going through song to purchase from iTunes, I came across one that I just HAD to get. And once I started listening to it, I knew that there was only one thing I could write about. And, if it sounds a little cheesy, I do apologize. I was really trying to portray emotion, feeling, the real essence of a memory.
I’m sitting at my computer right now, listening to Bruce Cockburn’s ‘Salt, Sun and Time’ and I am caught up in emotion. I can’t listen to this song without thinking of my dad. I can picture him, sitting on our old wood couch, with the cusions that my mother recovered, after dinner by a cozy fire playing this on his guitar. I remember when I was a little girl, just wanting to sit in the living room near him while he strummed away. He didn’t need to sing, although I loved when he sang songs too, and this song, without lyrics, in particular moves me. I remember my dad’s intense expression when he played this song; focused, calm and beautiful all at the same time.
As I watched his skilled fingers find the notes, a memory was being made. One of the strongest ones of my childhood. I listened to many different musicians growing up and even had the opportunity to watch a few others, but none of them evoke the feelings this song does and none of them will ever be as great as my dad playing this song.
I look at my dad now and see him, how strong he had to be to raise us and take care of our family. It was no easy task, as I am learning, now that I have a family myself. I want him to know that I am very thankful that he took the time to sit and play for us. Thankful that he would come to play the ‘Lie-la-lie’ song for me and Felice at bedtime. Thankful that he made music a part of our lives. I will have the childhood memories of him playing guitar forever in my heart. Even though they may not have seemed that significant, they remain a very important part of my life. I love you dad, so much.
