A re post of one of my first few posts.
Oh I do love my Pops ๐
Image from Google
Well, since I wrote about my marvellous mum, it would be totally awful of me not to mention my wonderful father, Papa, we called him when I was younger, it’s now morphed to Pops!
Dads are those men upon whom you end up judging pretty much every male in your life, and anyone coming into my life had a hard act to follow…
(So I totally lucked out with my gorgeous, kind, sensitive other half… More on him another post๐!)
The youngest of a huge brood of children, countless nephews and nieces, (some of whom were even older than him!) it’s tough in a big family, being able to stand out, but you know what he did it!
He qualified as a dentist, and gave up much of his own time to make sure his elderly patients were ok, visiting them at lunchtimes to save them having to come out, being caring with child patients, he even had one gentleman who came every two years from Canada as he loved Dad so much! (And I’ll proudly say, he never converted to private practice!!! NHS all the way!!)
His great rhythm, and love of music got him dancing, and to this day, he wows us all with his Bhangra moves! “While I’m dancing, I forget my age, I feel 21 again, then I watch a video of the event and see an old man!” No Pops, you are not an old man, age ain’t nothing but a number!!
And that rhythm flows within our family blood, so when there’s a big gathering of our tribe, we really know how to party!
Pops has been the most amazing dad, seriously though…
He lost his own father at a precious young age, and I know he missed that influence, so he was determined to be the best father he could be to us kids.
And you know what, he was, and very much still is.
From the material things we wanted, holidays, clothes, to the most important thing, time and affection, he has always been there… Even now, there’s nothing a hug from Pops can’t make go away!
He’s been a terrific taxi service for us all, ferrying brother dearest to numerous sporting events over the years, every weekend, dropping and picking us up from university, and even when I had my children, 6 hour round trips to pick me up, so I could spend time back at ‘home’.
And he still hasn’t stopped, ok there may be more stopovers involved, but for a 70 year old, I don’t think that’s bad, do you?
He’s always been so giving, and always has time for everyone. I’ll be honest, when I was younger, sometimes I used to wonder why are we going here and there to various peoples houses or functions, let’s just have time as a family, why, just because so and so called, are you rushing here and there? But now as an adult, I’ve realised that, you know what, that’s just my Pops. And I wouldn’t change him for anything!
That’s one of his most amazing qualities, being there for everyone, come hell or high water. It’s testament to him, how many people proudly call him Nanaji, or Baba, and still come to him for advice, in our family, and from outside. Since he retired, he’s taken it a step further, and is now teaching healing Yoga to many people, and reaching the masses with his own TV show… And he doesn’t get paid… This is his giving back to the world, as he feels so blessed to have what he has been given in life.
He’s been a most amazing role model for brother dearest, and as said brother is about to embark on first time fatherhood, I can say with the greatest confidence, that he will also be a most amazing Pops too!!
It would be a mistake to emit the fact that he is a most loving grandfather (Nanu) to my two monkeys, and as I mentioned before, he will be a granddaddy to 3 soon!
So, thanks Pops, love you to the moon and back, and even more on top!
Your thinking has shaped mine, and I hope that even if I have half the qualities you possess, I will be a great human being also!๐
But I Smile Anyway... 