Father’s Day is upon us this Sunday, a celebration of the influence of Fathers and Grandfathers on their children, families and beyond. Honouring Fathers, Fatherhood and that paternal bond, is an acknowledgement of the role that they play in society. It is important to recognise these achievements and to honour your parents and family in this way.
It is a strange holiday for me as I was raised, predominantly, by my Mother and Grandmother and the only major Male influence was my Grandfather (my mother’s father). My father is a good man, but was not a presence in my early and formative years, in fact it was not until my late teens that I got to know him well.
My Grandfather was an imposing man and though not generally enamoured of children, he and I found a bond over books, history and curry. I fondly remember our bi-weekly trips to the Curry Restaurant and our in depth discussions on History, especially the World Wars. This started when I was a young boy, he always sought to treat me as an adult.
I sought influences elsewhere as well, such as Books and Movies. I looked for men that had honour, integrity, style and men of action. I knew that they might have flaws but I needed my Male influences to be heroes. I needed them to be strong and to give me strength. It was not to say my Mother & Grandmother did not do a fantastic job, but I was a boy that needed some Male guidance and mine came through King Arthur, Robin Hood, James Bond and Spenser, amongst others.
Something hit home this week just gone, whilst watching the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings about real heroes and the fathers that were lost then in combat and that are still being lost around the world today. I realised that I still had my father, and I was one of the lucky ones.
I hope no matter what type of father you have real, fictional or substitute – you get to wish them a Happy Father’s Day, no matter where they are in the world.
I will be lighting a candle for my Grandfather and sending my Dad a card and maybe something else as he lives on the other side of the world currently.
Respectfully yours,
#1PG
