A Tribute to my Dad

My dad was the epitome of the “life and soul of the party”, whether it be family gatherings or friends. Whoever met him, never forgot him. He had a big presence. From his big build, his bellowing voice, to his friendly smile, he radiated energy and love. He would help anyone in need. He was always taking care of things. That was “my dad”.

Our Great Loss

My dad was rushed into hospital on Friday 23rd October, the morning of his 78th birthday. His health had deteriorated rapidly, he had been tired and not sleeping the past week, but we thought he would get better with rest. Little did we know that his body was beginning to shut down, his organs were failing one by one.

It was 2.30am Sunday when my mobile phone rang, I looked across at the screen that lit up my dark bedroom. I saw my brothers name and I knew……My dad had passed away at 2am. Jim was next to me and he tried to comfort me through his tears. I had to compose myself, how was I going to tell my daughter who was watching tv in the next room. She doted on her “Gung Gung” (chinese for Grand dad)………..

I couldn’t put it off any longer, I knocked on her door and got a sleepy reply. I opened the door hesitantly and saw her face. She looked at me for a second, I hesitated and I didn’t have to say anything as she saw it on my face, the realisation of what I was going to say dawned on her. She screamed “Noooo!” I ran over and I hugged her tightly, and together we cried for our big loss. My dad will never see his grandchildren get married and have kids. They will miss out on ever getting to know my much loved dad.

Dad’s Life

My dad had worked 6 days providing for his family, and on his day off he loved to entertain his extended family. He was generous, kind and loving and was a true magnet. All aunts, uncles and cousins used to pack into our house. He retired early so that he could socialise freely with his friends, and enjoy holidays abroad with my mum. These included Hong Kong, Japan, China, Malaysia, Bahamas,……… just to name a few.

In Chinese families, food is an important part of our culture. It signifies togetherness. Family meant everything to my dad. Wherever gatherings took place there was always an abundance of food. As years went by, he was piling on the pounds. Sadly this led him to lead a more sedentary life. His mobility became harder, he was getting breathless after walking a short distance. I could see he was getting more and more frustrated. He tried to cut down on what he was eating and tried to move more, but it was felt like he was climbing a mountain.

Gone Too Soon

In spring 2019 along came Isaac, his 5th grandchild. I noticed my dad getting his mojo back. He was the one that Isaac went to for cuddles and sleep. It saddens me that Isaac won’t know his granddad as he gets older. At the moment, he remembers him as he points to his chair and says “gung gung”. Isaac’s sister is expected to make an entrance into the world any day, which makes it the more poignant that my dad is missing out. My dad had a lot to live for. He passed away 2 days after his 78th birthday. They had celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary this year. My dad has gone too soon.

My Why

My dad’s premature death has caused a whole lot of pain and grief to me, my family and close friends. Although I hadn’t planned to share my blog just yet, this has given me a reason to just do it. ” Life is too short” .

My mission is to spread the word that we all can choose to live better and to be fit and healthy and live longer for our children and grandchildren. I want to inspire others at my age to create an ageless lifestyle by making better choices. I want to share what I know and to provide a platform for people to reach out and share their experiences with each other.

We all have something to contribute to society. My hope is that by sharing this blog that I will inspire people to take steps towards a healthier lifestyle. I promise to be consistent and turn up even on days that I might not feel like it. I believe this life is what we make of it.

So here’s to Living Agelessly

Kath