To our daughters;
I learned so much from your mother! She was my lover and my bosom friend.
The summer of 1992 was running in earnest and Mom and I were escaping every day to many different places around the mainland. We were having the time of our lives! At the end of the summer, I did not have a penny left but was the happiest man alive!
Mom had a white 1989 Chevrolet Cavalier station wagon. Her car smelled like a wet dog, Sam, her dog, was the main passenger before she met me. That car would break down every 100 kilometers or so and would run out of gas as soon as the gas red light went on, and guess who had to push; your Dad! But, we were like peas and carrots and as happy as they came.
You always tell me - "Dad, you know strange old words and expressions no one uses these days!" Your mom is responsible for that!
I learned what a "Sea Shanty" is in that white Cavalier listening to CBC radio. The station had a show on sailors and fishermen and how poorly the New Founland fishing industry was doing in those days due to overfishing by Spanish fishing boats. Between commentaries, they would play a song. One of the songs reached me very profoundly, I was very impressed by the lyrics and told your mother - "That song is amazing, I love it What is it?" - and with a smile, she answered - " It is a genre of traditional folk song that was once commonly sung as a work song to accompany rhythmical labor aboard fishing and merchant sailing vessels. Sailors would sing them a Cappella; they could not get a guitar out while working!". The song was "One More Pull" by Ian Woods. I remember telling your mom that I could appreciate that song; I come from sailors as well!
How the mind works is absolutely fascinating; it never ceases to impress me. Those are impressions.
I listened to that song today and tears came from my eyes. The shanty has a new meaning for me. I love you girls.
Your Dad,
XOXOXO
