Father's light
December 2006
If you're lucky enough to still have your parents around, I hope you are able to find the time to visit them. Last month, we were lucky enough to visit both sets of parents. I took this image as my father lit the Chanukah candles.
I thought the scene was particularly poignant: the holiday is the Jewish festival of lights, while a parent's role is to guide a child into adulthood. That role is, in many respects, a beacon to the next generation. And although the heavy lifting of parenthood is over for my parents, I saw a certain symbolism in my father's lighting the light for us and for our kids. If only those hands could speak...
Your turn: I hope you'll share a memory of your parents in a comment.
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13 comments:
What a lovely picture, Carmi...Your father has a very expressive hand in this very special photograph.
Here from Michele's tonight, my dear...
Funnily enough, there is a memory only recently posted on my blog.
http://craziequeen.blogspot.com/2007/01/blog-fodder-4-and-5.html
Some families are so traumatic that memories are few and far between.
Morning, carmi!
cq
My parents are long gone, Carmi, and I wish that I could have just one more day with them. I would let them know how much I appreciate all that they sacrificed for me when I was a child. Michele sent me this time.
I have not so much a passing memory but a constant memory that my parents have ALWAYS been there for me. Ever since I was a child they told me that they would be there and as I got older and tested them (some things were small and some were HUGE)...it always was true. I NEVER felt alone. That is a wonderful memory that I hope my kids will have of us as parents.
Great picture.
I have tons of good memories. Unfortunately, my mom's no longer with us, so the recent memories are a bit sad.
I'll have to say, there is one memory of my dad that I will take with me to my dad.
About 26 years ago, he took me to a Buffalo Bills game. It was during the Iran Hostage Crisis. I don't know if I've shared this anecdote with you, or not. Forgive me if I have...
Needless to say, there were 80,000 people chanting "Iran s*cks" during the game. My dad turns to me and says:
"Just because these 80,000 people think Iran sucks, it doesn't mean you have to."
Guidance into adulthood, indeed.
here via michele today.
p
Hey Carmi...Any chance you'll be coming to Los Angeles in 2007?
I surely do hope so...And we can take pictures of each other! LOL!
I seriously do dearly hope you will have to come on business and take a few hours so we can get together...My News Years Wish!
Seeing the hand makes me want to meet the man!
I have no memories on the tip of my fingers right now, but generally my Dad, who passed away over ten years ago, has been popping up in my memories lately.
What a beautiful photo.
Another nice picture Carmi. Enjoy the time you have with your parents. We lost my father this summer. So many little things remind me of him.
Michele sent me.
Ah, my eyes are slightly wet looking at the photo and thinking about fathers. My dad loved Christmas. He was a cross between Santa and Jackie Gleason. On Christmas morning he liked to go down the stairs to the tree first (probably to put the lights on the tree) and then call us down. It was like a stampede!
Hey, thanks for that last great comment, Carmi. It really put a big smile on my face. I know as a father with precious young sons, (at least one, right?) you can relate!
My parents are both gone...it'll be 4 years in April for my dad and 2 years next month for my mom. So treasure those memories and good times together, Carmi. They're over much too fast.
Lovely photo and words.
And welcome home! I didn't even realize you were down here in the Sunshine State where I am.
Okay that brought tears to my eyes. wow. I love that photo.
Both of my parents have passed but I am thankful for many happy memories of time spent with them and things they taught me, often by demonstration. What stands out for me to share in this moment was their embodiment of true, unconditional love and what it meant to be true to the vows of marriage. I miss them dreadfully. Every day is difficult in some respect. But I am so lucky and grateful to have had them.
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