Pinot, Bretzels, and Cathedrals

Here’s a statement that you will probably disagree with: My parents are the greatest parents in the world. It’s true. And though YOUR parents could well be the greatest in the world, I still think mine are.
Tomorrow- August 30th, they celebrate 38 years of marriage. On one hand, its nothing special.
On the other hand, why not?
Every milestone should be special, each and every day should be memorable.
Sadly, and I speak for myself here, its not. Days run into each other like dominoes, I don’t stop to savour the aroma of my coffee, relish the morning kiss and warm hug from my baby girl or bother to open the blinds to appreciate the morning sun. It really is a terrible habit, a habit which I must make an effort to get rid of.

But I digress, another bad habit.

Here is my Dad, 60-something, a quiet, deep thinking, carefully spoken, very hard working man. He’s difficult to read, but then, you don’t need to ‘read’ him- he’s as honest as a toddler. He’s worked harder than anybody I know, for very nearly 50 years. He does what he has to, because he does what he has to. There are no frills and trills, nothing aesthetic about him, no graces or airs, and he really could not be bothered what society dictates.
He’s content with a cup of tea, and a plate of God’s given produce- potatoes, oats, wheat, and a little cow on the side, be it milk, cheese, or gravy.
I remember being quite terrified of my Dad as a child. Perhaps it was childhood respect more than fear. I certainly don’t see any part of those days in him now. I love the times we spend together now as adults, I crave those moments; I crave sitting with a cup of tea and listening to his deep-seated advise and wisdom, and I fear I will miss it desperately in the years to come. Also, to watch him when Alex & Beth are around is very, very special. My girls have so much adoration for their Bumpy, it can only mean one thing: That he’s the greatest!

Of course, Mum is the only person who could stand by his side. She is patient and big hearted. She looks for the good in everybody. She understands every little nuance and reacts accordingly. I suspect every young woman fights with their mum at some point in their childhood, and Mum and I were no different. Thankfully, I have matured enough to know that my Mum was my greatest guide into adulthood. She taught me to be respectful of people’s space, to acknowledge their roles in my life, to learn from my mistakes, and to grow from within my soul. She let me teach myself my lessons, in a way that I felt I was in control, and did not need to test the system and rebel. An angel, I was most certainly not, I have done many things I am not proud of, and though I have a few tormented demons lurking in the depths of my grey matter, I am proud of the person that I am today.

Today, tomorrow, the day after, I will say thank you to this amazing couple, who, together, and apart, have so much to be proud of. They are a light to many of us, they are a pillar to me most definitely, and want to wish them, forever, Happy Days. Thank you for your support and guidance though-out my young life. I pray that I can follow in your footsteps.

Love you dearly. xxx