Today the 19th December 2021 would have been my Dad’s 94th birthday but sadly he passed away 4 years ago, a day before his 90th birthday.
In the week before he died I was able to visit and be with him. As my body was still adjusted to European time I offered to sit with Dad during the night so that my sister could get some much needed sleep. I would lay on the couch next to his bed and hold his hand, a treasured memory. My niece Breanna had put a playlist of golden oldie songs on Dad’s telephone so that he could listen to some background music. Sometimes during the night I could hear him softly singing along or tapping with his hand to the beat.
Whenever I hear some of these songs they bring me back to this moment and to memories of my Dad, golden memories.
One song in particular was very poignant
‘If ever I would leave you’ by Robert Meadmore from the musical Camelot, hear are the lyrics -
‘If ever I would leave you, it wouldn't be in summer.
Seeing you in summer I never would go.
Your hair streaked with sun-light, your lips red as flame, your face with a luster.
That puts gold to shame.
But if I'd ever leave you, it couldn't be in autumn.
How I'd leave in autumn I never will know.
I've seen how you sparkle, when fall nips the air.
I know you in autumn, and I must be there.
And could I leave you running merrily through the snow
Or on a wintry evening when you catch the fire's glow
If ever I would leave you, how could it be in spring-time
Knowing how in spring I'm bewitched by you so
Oh, no! not in spring-time.
Summer, winter or fall.
No, never could I leave you at all.
No, never could I leave you at all.’
Sadly Dad, you had to leave us, but now Mum is with you again and your memories will always live with us in our hearts.
