This is my father. He would have been 93 years old today. My father wasn't a very social man (I am so much my father's daughter!), so it is particularly good to see him at a party. This photo was taken at his sister's house in New Jersey. I don't know exactly when, but I'm pretty sure it was during one of my parent's visits back east after we had moved to California. That would put it in the early 1970s. The thing about a life is that there can only ever be a finite number of photographs of any one of us. There comes a time when not a single additional one can be clicked through the lens of any camera. That's when the conjuring becomes the work of loved ones' hearts. But here I hold in my hands the photo that captures my father's very sweet smile. A moment in the lifetime of a much-loved man. Happy birthday, Dad.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Another Year Goes By
This is my father. He would have been 93 years old today. My father wasn't a very social man (I am so much my father's daughter!), so it is particularly good to see him at a party. This photo was taken at his sister's house in New Jersey. I don't know exactly when, but I'm pretty sure it was during one of my parent's visits back east after we had moved to California. That would put it in the early 1970s. The thing about a life is that there can only ever be a finite number of photographs of any one of us. There comes a time when not a single additional one can be clicked through the lens of any camera. That's when the conjuring becomes the work of loved ones' hearts. But here I hold in my hands the photo that captures my father's very sweet smile. A moment in the lifetime of a much-loved man. Happy birthday, Dad.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I wish your father a happy birthday. The thing that I always think with my dad and with Don is that they will now never grow old - it is me who is getting older while they will be young forever.
ReplyDeleteCheers!
ReplyDeleteI'm moved by this loving celebration of your father's life on his birthday. Thank you for sharing the lovingkindness in his sweet smile with us today.
ReplyDeleteI think all Dads hope their daughters and sons feel like you do, while we are here, and after we are not.
ReplyDeleteThat's a very sweet birthday note you sent him.
yes, very sweet! happy birthday, dad.
ReplyDeletei miss my dad, too. on my wall of family photos are dad's baby photo (two sisters and my son looked exactly the same), one of him holding baby me (he still had hair!), and one of him reading to me and two sisters on christmas eve 1964. i can date that last one because we were wearing our christmas jammies, and my baby sister was not born yet.
dad was the family photographer -- he even had a darkroom in the garage -- so several more photos were taken by him: my law school graduation, my husband on our wedding day, me and a favorite cat, and the famous "stairstep" photo of all 4 daughters in matching easter outfits, circa 1969.
My father would be 94 now. He died 11 years ago. I guess I am at peace with that, but it is still hard to comprehend that he is actually gone.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post about a man who truly did have a sweet smile.
ReplyDeleteHold him dear and remember.
Happy Birthday, Mr. Chanin! Robin, you have brought us such wonderful stories about your dad, over many years. Love to hear about him, and relive with you many happy times.
ReplyDeleteTears. Such a sweet tribute--and, yes, I would have loved to have met him, based on that smile!
ReplyDeleteA nice post indeed. Robin, I see now where you got that fabulous thick hair, and the beautiful silver color. And a reminder to take photos of loved ones, you never know when that last picture will be taken.
ReplyDeleteThe older I get the more powerful are those photos of the past, particularly ones of myself and I wonder who is that young stranger. I look at my parents, now gone, and miss them with a terrible loss. What fantastic friends they would make now! peace, m
ReplyDeleteLovely post about your dad. I must admit that I chuckled when I noticed the hand reaching into the dip.
ReplyDeleteI have a glass of wine in my hand, toasting the anniversary of your father's birth.
My parents are still around, but we have precious few pictures of them (or their parents). Almost all the holiday photos are of the kids. In many of them, we can see the legs and feet of the adults as the photo focuses on the gift-getting child. I want to scream at the photographer to move the camera up so we can see their faces.
ReplyDeleteThank you again for sharing your dad's birthday with us. He does have a very lovely smile.
My parents are still around, but we have precious few pictures of them (or their parents). Almost all the holiday photos are of the kids. In many of them, we can see the legs and feet of the adults as the photo focuses on the gift-getting child. I want to scream at the photographer to move the camera up so we can see their faces.
ReplyDeleteThank you again for sharing your dad's birthday with us. He does have a very lovely smile.
But I repeat myself. ;)
ReplyDeletenice pick
ReplyDeleteReal Estate Consultants in Gurgaon ... Gurgaon is a really very good place to invest.. it is a most growing city in the world
what a handsome man wearing that smile. :) how fortunate you were to have had a kind and loving father - many do not have the warm memories that you share.
ReplyDelete