You’ll always find an ashtray filled with Licorice Allsorts at our house during the holidays. It’s an ode to my dear old dad, who passed away in 2013.
He loved Licorice Allsorts, and would often sit and eat a whole bag while watching us open our presents on Christmas day (we always made sure to fill his stocking with them). He also smoked for over 50 years. When he was around 12 years of age, his mother (uneducated and an immigrant to Canada) encouraged him to smoke. She was under the misguided impression that it would make him manly and tough. Of course years later once she understood the consequences, she felt horrible for ever encouraging him to pick up the habit but the damage had been done. He was a heavy smoker for more than 50 years. After finding scar tissue on his lungs in his early 60’s, he stopped cold turkey.
During the holidays I think of my Dad more often. There is so much generosity during the holidays and I’m always inspired by how much my Dad gave back and how generous he was. He worked hard and we always had everything we needed. He gave freely to us kids, spoiled my own family when we came back to Ontario to visit, and was generous with strangers he had no connection with, besides just all of us living in this world together.
So of course I’m sad, but really more than ever when I think of my Dad, I’m just so appreciative of his wise words, kind heart, and sharp mind.
I miss him so much, but know he would be proud of me, what I’m doing, and where I’m going.
From our family to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
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