Happy Father's Day Pop - I miss you.

My dad and Roberta.  She was his soulmate.  He was her rock.

My dad taught me what it means to be faithful and stoic in difficult times.  His first marriage, to my mom, was challenging due to her alcoholism and emotional burdens.  Despite the serious hardships he suffered, he stood the course.  She stopped drinking in 1980 and passed away 17 years later.  She died, as my dad would say, a friend to him.

He met and married his second wife a few years later.  Unfortunately, she developed Alzheimer's three years later and passed away after 6 years of marriage to my dad.  She was the love he never knew; it was obvious she healed much of the torment he felt.  Then came Roberta.

If there was ever a couple who were meant to be together, it was Roberta and my dad.  Like-minded, with a love of exploration, they travelled the country together.  I took the above photo of them while we were camping together in Oregon.  I shot the inset when they came to our home in Maple Ridge.  

Roberta passed away after ten years of a great marriage.  My dad passed away four years ago.  I was fortunate to be there at his side.  I will never forget those precious moments.

I miss you, Pop.  Thank you for being the best dad you could be in the hard times we had while growing up.  I learned a lot from you.  You are always on my mind, only a thought away.

Happy Father's Day.

Eric.


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