For my father…

Dear World,

I swear to you, I despise the month of June.

My dad died on June 22nd, some years ago and too many occasions happen in this month that is some way related to the death of my father.

There is Father’s Day and all that leads up to it. And, of course, there is ‘Relay for Life Jamaica’.

I haven’t cried in a while but sadness does take over when I think of him in relation to the mentioned occasions.

The good in all of it is that I’ve reached a stage in my life where I am able to channel the negativity of his death into positives.

The death of my father by way of Cancer has given me the courage and the strength to honour cancer survivors and their families, support current cancer patients and their families and to live in and love the memory of cancer victims.

It’s because of his illness and death that I chose one of my many mantras to be “give and help when you can and expect nothing in return. Selflessness is key to happiness.”

He lived a full life despite his early demise.

He was selfless and he was a happy man. Daddy lived to see his children grow up to be wonderful young adults and I know he was proud. He had a funny way of showing it at times but it was there. He never actually shared his life mantra with me but I swear to you that it’s nothing shy of “live, love, laugh with a mixture of hard work and integrity.”

The man used to work like a horse!

He loved music and he loved to dance. He was a foodie. My dad, loved to eat and he loved to cook.

Speaking of food, this man didn’t fancy produce that was not authentically Jamaican. In his mind, garbage replaced the essential vitamins and minerals that food should have.

He was a bald head rastaman. He loved most things about the movement and religion.

One of his songs to jam to was Morgan Heritage’s “You Don’t Affi Dread to be Rasta”.

I loc’d my hair and I know he would have loved it.

He loved animals and he loved his immediate family. He was always willing to cuss out, injure, maim or even die for us. Stewie was our protector. Our very own skinny and short Superman.

His strength exceeded that of the average father.

He taught his children to be responsible and disciplined in all aspects of their lives. With responsibility and discipline instilled, everything else fell into place like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.

He didn’t want a perfect family, he just wanted a family who could and who would. We became just that.

All in all, my father had many characteristics for us to emulate. He would have been proud of us.

Wherever he is, I know he’s telling folk about the awesome family that he will see again.

Happy Father’s Day.

Signed with love

Candice K.