Thursday, September 10, 2015
My father and I never got the opportunity to be as close as I wished. After a divorce, my mother remarried & moved us to the US. So my memories of and moments with him aren’t as plentiful as I’d have wished…. but they’re so very precious. He was devoted and took every opportunity to let me know how proud he was of my accomplishments. He had a “shrine” of sorts of my achievements. One of the most special things he did was “gifting” me a horse. I was working at a Standardbred racing stable. He knew the owner, recognized my love for horses & negotiated for the Mr. Snowbird son I had fallen in love with to be given to me in exchange for work. It established my lifelong long of the racing sport. His profound statement “you’re as skittish as those race horses you love…it’ll take a strong, yet gentle, understanding man to handle you” still ring true. I regret I’ve never found that man to introduce to my father for his approval. It wasn’t always easy being with him … but so what? He instilled the best qualities on to me … a strong work ethic (show up, do what you’re paid to do, if you’re not feeling well suck it up & do your job)…..a strong faith (trust that it will be ok, this is God’s plan) … a strong sense of honor (do what’s right & speak up about what isn’t)…. a love for the outdoors ( his favorite moments were spent at the camp in the woods) …..be proud of who you are & your heritage (hard working Saint John North Enders)… and a strong sense of humor. Life is tough, laughter makes it better. My brother Scott exemplifies this inherited Doyle trait. The best gift my father bestowed upon me is my sisters & brother. Family is everything. God protect you my father until I can hug you again….
