April is a month of reflection for me.
April 7th was my Dad’s birthday. He has been gone for 15 years, and yet his influence is still a part of my life.
I was deeply reminded of this when I had an old violin of his evaluated by a couple of professionals. Indeed, it was very old, 100+ years. It had hung around in my parents’ closet for as long as I can remember, then passed on to me to do the same. It had many imperfections and yet was quite beautiful. It was not worth anything as it was built in an era of mass production with a label that would indicate otherwise.
I never once saw my Dad play it, and yet in my mind’s eye, I could see Grandma Chapple (a teacher and great piano player) making him play it. It was a window into his childhood which was rare to behold. You don’t often get an opportunity like this to glimpse a parent in their youth.
The outcome was an opportunity for this violin to live to play again. It will be sent to a studio in Hamilton, and completely repaired for free. It will then be given to a child who will get a chance to own their own violin. This seemed to me like something that Dad would have liked.
After being a repair foreman at Bell for most of his working life, in retirement he became a pilot of a Cessna. He would often have youth groups of boys and girls come to the airport in Midland and show them the ins and outs of this Cessna, then give them a ride. He loved to teach.
He taught me to sail on a blue sailing surfboard he and my brother had crafted. My Mom made the pale blue sails for it. Many wonderful hours were spent by me on Georgian Bay sailing. This was such a love of mine and a place of peaceful reflection.
Thank you, Dad, for these wonderful memories and Happy Heavenly Birthday.
Sue