A note to my daughters

This was sent as an email to my daughters, Helen, Sara and Vivienne, and I think it shows rather nicely how my Lancashire lad mind works, and what I hold dear.

 

My little computer room is untidy, it’s usual state really but I’m not happy about it, so every now and then I start to sort things out and get rid of stuff that’s just clutter. I have this system, see. Thinks me, I’ll put all my hard-backed folders on the dark blue shelves kindly supplied by The Warehouse. (I don’t like the colour blue, but that’s all they had at the time.) The soft brown and thin plastic folders I’ll put in Filemaster boxes and that’ll do for a start.

The morning followed that pattern; for a while. I’d made several trips to the rubbish bin kidding myself I was doing well, when the inevitable happened. The largish brown envelope winked at me, seducing me to pick it up and go through its contents again. I knew what it contained before I read the label underneath: ‘Dad’s cards’. I just couldn’t throw them away. Well, they’re from my three super daughters, see. They range from greetings for Father’s Day, to birthdays and Christmas, with unexpected extras urging the Dad in me to allow my emotions off their leash for a while. Which I do, the very best of therapy for me, I’ve found.

I’m pictured in crayon on brown or other coloured paper, with a scattering of a few bought cards. It’s their hand-made creations with delightful drawings, comments, humour and touching sentiments which have me smiling or my eyes filling. They just make me feel so good inside each time I get them out, and now I want to tell you how much they have meant to me over the years.

That was over almost two hours ago. I’ve transferred all of the creations from the brown envelope into a clear plastic sealable bag. I think the bag originally came from Sara, and it’s got: ‘Shredded coconut bought 6/8/07’ in black felt on it. I’ve changed my old label on it; it and it now reads, ‘Dad’s cards’ but have added, ‘To keep!’ Going through them gives me the feeling of doing a Dr Who-like trip of the very happiest kind, and for a short while, we’re all at that age again as a kind of bonus, enjoying how we were back then. Super eh?

So I thought you’d all like to know what your cards have meant to me and why I’ve kept them. You all mean much more to me than I can find words to say, Helen, Sara and Vivienne. You’ve delighted me over the years with warm smiles and hugs, cards and gifts of various kinds, and in my latter years, with your families especially.

So, it’s hugs and warm fuzzies from me to you all.
Love, Dad

Dennis Crompton © 2007
(first published www.denniscrompton.wordpress.com 2013)