Hello special you, my posting has been sporadic at best in the last couple of weeks due to yet another bought of illness - this time the flu + sinus - but I'm feel so lucky to have such fabulous bloggy friends who have kept my spirits buoyed with lovely notes and messages that I had to pop in today and say THANK YOU!
My post today isn't really about me, but my wonderful Father Ian.
This is one of the only photos of the two of us together in recent times that I could find which was a big wake up call for me as I scrolled frantically through my photo gallery - something to be rectified ASAP!
You might think that this is an unusual photo for me to share with you but it's actually very significant.
It's a blurry image because it was taken by the ever-thoughtful Captain V rushing to capture this moment in time knowing how much I would treasure it.
That's my Dad walking with me through our garden, his arm is around me and I'm wiping away a stream of tears. He is giving me lots of loving advice and I'm overwhelmed.
This walk happened after a family luncheon where I'd just sat, with Captain V holding my hand, and explained my physical and mental health issues to my closest family members.
It was a particularly challenging conversation to have because I was not only bringing to light the truth about what I'd been dealing with but also pulling to the surface my fears and concerns.
We aren't a particularly emotionally articulate lot and I was worried about the response I would receive.
What a 'dill' I was, of course they were fabulous and this walk with Dad was one of the many loving gestures that flowed from my family to reassure and uplift me.
I share this anecdote with you to introduce you to my very special Father.
He is very much on my mind at the moment as he has suddenly become very unwell and is in hospital.
Mum took him to the emergency department in the very early hours of Sunday morning as he was suffering spiking temps and uncontrollable shaking.
He's been there ever since undergoing a barrage of tests to try to determine what's going on.
So far no real clues have come to light but hopefully he can return home today for some proper rest and constant monitoring and care provided by Mum.
I've felt completely useless throughout the whole ordeal as I can't be there to support Mum or visit Dad with this flu bug coursing through my body and all I've been able to do is make phone calls to check on Dad's progress it's been very frustrating.
This post was sparked because we just had a lovely chat together over the phone where I told him about the upcoming 'surprise holiday' to Sydney that we're taking the Gifts on and I'm please to say that his spirits seemed to lift as he shared his own tips for what to do and where we should go as he's a North Shore Sydney boy.
I dearly wish that I could give him a hug, hold his hand and help Mum through this time by actually being there with her but until this course of antibiotics does their thing I'm in quarantine mode.
So at this time of the year where we're all rushing about madly trying to
buy things to show the people that we love how much we care for them, I hope that you read this and think that perhaps a material gift isn't the best present after all.
A warm hug, a long conversation, a thought-filled note, spending time together, sharing an experience, a true reaching out might be the gift that both your hearts will treasure most.
For all who are away from your loved ones at this time, this incident with Dad has helped me to understand how challenging it is not to be able to truly 'reach out'....oh and of course I now have a mission to take lots and lots of photos of my loved ones over the coming weeks.
Hugs to you my friend, I hope something in this post has resonated and that you take the time to reach out to someone you love today.
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