It's been a rough summer. In mid June I received the phone call that I had always dreaded. My dad had been feeling poorly for a few weeks and, after being admitted to hospital in Aberdeen, was diagnosed with a very rare and terminal illness. The doctors gave him 2 weeks, and Dad passed away on July 5th with his family by his side. He was 73 years old and had only retired from work 6 weeks before he was diagnosed.
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| My dad and my son on Castle Hill at Auldearn, July 2008 |
While growing up in the Northeast of Scotland my dad had encouraged my interest in Scottish history and regularly took me and my sister to local castles, battlefields and stone circles and taught us the history of these places. These childhood outings inspired a life long love of history and throughout my adult life my, despite living overseas, every time I was back in Scotland my dad and I continued to visit these places together.
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| My dad and my sister at Alford Battlefield, April 2013 |
The last thing I did with my dad before he took ill was a walk along the River Don at Alford Battlefield in late April. In the days following the funeral I walked several of the places we would visit together including Fyvie Castle and battlefield, the Braes of Gicht and the Hill of Dunnideer in the shadow of Bennachie. Goodbye Dad, you will be missed.
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| Walter Morrison, 1940-2013 |
Your son is very lucky to have known his grandfather. It's a special relationship that not everyone has the luck to enjoy. It sounds like you shared a lot of great interests with your father and will have some wonderful memories.
ReplyDeleteSorry for your loss, sounds like you and he had a great relationship cherish that.
ReplyDeletePeace James
That's rough, losing a loved one is very painful, but i don't need to tell you that, my condolences.
ReplyDeleteI'm very sorry to hear about your dad. My dad died on 2 July last year, and his loss still has me disorientated. Be kind to yourself.
ReplyDeleteVery sorry for your loss. Time is the healer, but they are always missed.
ReplyDeleteVery sorry to hear about your father. It's the way of things, but it doesn't make it any easier. Just remember the good times.
ReplyDeleteI'm very sorry for your loss. I lost my father a few years ago and while the pain never goes away it does get better.
ReplyDeleteChristopher
Feel for you. My Dad and I used to go to the pub on a Saturday for 'an aperitif' and over the years these moments led to him being not just my beloved Dad but also a best pal. When he died, I took his ashes to the pub and we had a last drink together. Of course, I drank his too - well, what did you expect? I'm a Scotsman too!
ReplyDeleteDavy