my father died unexpectedly in his sleep.
Please click here for a song that reminds me of him, particularly the line:
As a boy he’d take me walking
By mountain field and stream
And he showed me things
Not known to kings
And secret between him and me
Like the colours of the pheasant
As he rises in the dawn
And how to fish and make a wish
Beside the holly tree
We never made any wishes beside the holly tree, but I spent the better part of my childhood walking by mountain, field and stream, following the salmon and the trout. Dad would read the rivers, stopping at every bridge and crossing, always able to tell at a glance whether the fish were biting, or if the evening would be better spent with a cigar on the porch and the writings of St. Augustine or Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
I have many memories of him, but one is pushing its way in front of all the others, tugging at my elbow and begging, "Pick me! Pick me!"
The details are hazy, but my parents and I were away in upstate New York, and, for some reason, we had slept late and missed Mass on the Feast of the Assumption. It was no problem, said Dad, we would go to the next church. After finding Mass already over in two or three churches--all of which were miles apart--most people would have given up. After all, we had tried.
Not Dad (or Mom for that matter). No that would never do. "I've never missed Mass on a holy day of obligation in my life, and I'm not going to start now," he declared, searching for a church with the intensity of a person looking for a hospital in an emergency.
He found a Mass bye and bye--through sheer determination--but more than that he left a lasting impression on the little girl in the back of the car.
So thank you, Dad! I love you!
He must have been a wonderful man. How blessed you are to have had him in your life.
Posted by: Theresa | February 09, 2008 at 10:02 PM
What a wonderful bittersweet post. You were indeed blessed to have such a father. I'm sorry for your sudden loss.
May I ask if that is you or one of your daughters in the photo? It looks so much like Maureen!
Posted by: patience | February 09, 2008 at 10:41 PM
Dearest Alice, my condolences. I share your sorrow. My father passed on Feb 8th, 2005. He passed because of Parkinson's Disease. I took care of all of his needs for the last 7 months of his life. Yesterday was a day of memories also.
pax. laurie
Posted by: Laurie | February 09, 2008 at 10:46 PM
Oh, Alice, what a beautiful tribute to your father. Remembering you all in prayer.
Posted by: Love2learn Mom | February 09, 2008 at 11:29 PM
Hugs to you Alice on this sad day. Thanks for sharing a bit of your father's faith and love with us. His warm smile is positively charming in that second picture! Prayers for all of you.
Posted by: Kimberlee | February 10, 2008 at 12:47 AM
Alice,
Sending you lots of love and hugs today. I Just love that song and just don't know how I will deal with the day when it come to it when my dad will no longer be there for me. As your Dad was an O'Brien from Cork I just know he was an amazing man and I am just not saying that because I am a daughter of an O'Brien from Cork!! Oh is that another thing we have in common. I really think if we looked into it we would be related somehow but we are internet cousins anyway! In St. Mary's church in Cork they are start the Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes today until next Sunday the 17th. My Aunt send me the Novena prayer so I started it today and I will remember you Mom and Dad as I pray the Novena. In our Parish church, St. Joseph's the novena is in full spring and will end on Monday and Dad has entered your mom in the intension box and she is prayed for everyday at the Novena and will be prayed for in a special Mass tomorrow.
Hope all is well for you all,
Hugs,
Leona
Posted by: Leona | February 10, 2008 at 02:08 AM
What a wonderful remembrance! I will remember you and your family in my prayers today at mass.
Posted by: Carole in Wales | February 10, 2008 at 04:52 AM
Oh Alice, these images and this tribute have made a lasting impression on my heart. Just look at the little girl in that last photo--and just look how she turned out! Your father's smile is so telling. He was proud of you then and he's even more proud of you now.
I will lift up your family's intentions in a special way at Mass today. Let us pray that when we are tempted to too much sorrow or even doubt, we will instead imagine the reunion that awaits us...
Posted by: Margaret in Minnesota | February 10, 2008 at 07:27 AM
That was beautiful, Alice. Thank you for sharing this. You are truly blessed.
Posted by: Ruth | February 10, 2008 at 07:49 AM
That was beautiful. I see a resemblance there - physical and spiritual.
Posted by: Jennifer | February 10, 2008 at 08:15 AM
What a beautiful tribute to a wonderful man. I will be remembering you in my prayers today as you deal with this difficult anniversary.
Posted by: Christine M | February 10, 2008 at 08:43 AM
Oh, Alice, what an amazingly beautiful tribute to an amazing man. And the song is so lovely and sad. Prayers and hugs for you, sweetie.
Posted by: Karen Edmisten | February 10, 2008 at 09:13 AM
Thank you for sharing this beautiful story with us. Your father sounds like he was a true man of Christ! What a blessing!
Posted by: Renee | February 10, 2008 at 09:38 AM
Alice, I will be praying for your dad all day today and for you as well. I know a bit of your feelings as I miss my own father so much. Thanks for sharing this story.
Posted by: Rebecca | February 10, 2008 at 10:57 AM
Is that one of yours on his lap? Of course it can't be, but Alice the faces I see in your Christmas pictures are the very same face I see giggling on your daddy's knee! What a beautiful tribute. Thank you fo sharing it. I never knew him but I love him. I'll meet him one day...bye and bye...xo
Posted by: Lorraine | February 10, 2008 at 01:09 PM
Praying for you today, Alice. Thank you for sharing your memories of your dear father.
Posted by: Jennifer in TX | February 10, 2008 at 02:15 PM
Oh Alice - such a beautiful tribute to your father, and such a wonderful song. I'm sitting here with tears falling down my face. I prayed for the repose of your father's soul in Mass this morning. I also prayed for your mother and you. The bottom pic looks just like Maureen on your father's lap...but I know it's you. Many hugs! :)
Posted by: Cheryl M. | February 10, 2008 at 02:19 PM
He sounds like he was a wonderful man, Alice.
Posted by: Beck | February 10, 2008 at 02:23 PM
So beautiful, what am incredible man, praying for his soul and for you my dear! Love,
Posted by: Meredith | February 10, 2008 at 03:20 PM
((((Alice)))) Praying for him and all of you.
Posted by: Amy | February 10, 2008 at 05:12 PM
Praying for your father and you!
Posted by: molly mcgovern | February 10, 2008 at 07:15 PM
It would make sense that your father would be as wonderful as your lovely mother is described. I will say a prayer for him today. You are blessed to have had a good father.
Posted by: Sarah | February 10, 2008 at 08:03 PM
Oh, Alice, how lovely this was. And how that last photo took my breath away! Like everyone else, I see your little Eileen in you, but even more so, I see Theresa as she looked when first we met!
I love you, dear one!
Posted by: Melissa Wiley | February 10, 2008 at 09:41 PM
What a tremendous man, Alice. He will be in my prayers tonight.
Posted by: Kristen Laurence | February 11, 2008 at 12:44 AM
Oh Alice, this has me crying! What a blessed, blessed father! May he bless you, your family and particularly your mother from above.
God Bless & lots of love, Anne
Posted by: aussieannie | February 11, 2008 at 04:10 PM
That beautiful song moved me greatly, thank you so much for sharing it and it is a blessing that it is so close to your heart...to your father.
Posted by: aussieannie | February 11, 2008 at 04:18 PM
What a beautiful memory. Praying for you all.
Posted by: KC | February 11, 2008 at 10:57 PM
Oh my goodness, Alice! How beautiful!
You look just like your dad and that dear little one on your dad's lap looks just like your dear little one - just like!!!
Posted by: Maria P | February 13, 2008 at 12:30 PM
What a lovely remembrance to your father. I share in your grief. My father suddenly and unexpectedly passed away in his sleep just a few months ago. Such a peaceful way to go for such wonderful men.
Posted by: TM | February 13, 2008 at 10:50 PM