“ Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference . ” Winston Churchill
I want to know who brought us to this country.
I’ve just dialled my father and before any sort of greeting, this is what he says into the phone. I tell him it was his decision. I was a child and no one asked me. He laughs and says he doesn’t believe me. I had an opinion and a mind of my own even then.
It’s been twenty-five below in Calgary all week. When he opens the front door to let the homecare worker in, he feels the chill enter the house. _Why don ’t we buy an apartment in Greece? _he asks. The same one we rented. It ’s perfect.
_You ’re 88 years old, _I respond.
_So what ’s your point? _He says.
It ’s a long trip. Remember?
So? Once I get there, I will still have time to enjoy it.
It makes me think about me. When did I become so afraid to take a chance? I don’t know. When did I stop having a mind of my own? Perhaps I’ve gotten too comfortable where I am, too safe in my routines. My elderly father is prepared to take a risk I wouldn’t begin to consider.
We could walk across the street; have a coffee outside. Have lunch at the corner place.
He remembers our neighbourhood in Athens perfectly.
I do too. I just don’t remember where I lost my sense of adventure?
And with this discussion, he reminds me I need to ask myself this question and more importantly find it again, i.e., that willingness to throw caution to the wind and see what happens.
© All Rights Reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, all blog content copyright Stella L Harvey
“ Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference . ” Winston Churchill
I want to know who brought us to this country.
I’ve just dialled my father and before any sort of greeting, this is what he says into the phone. I tell him it was his decision. I was a child and no one asked me. He laughs and says he doesn’t believe me. I had an opinion and a mind of my own even then.
It’s been twenty-five below in Calgary all week. When he opens the front door to let the homecare worker in, he feels the chill enter the house. _Why don ’t we buy an apartment in Greece? _he asks. The same one we rented. It ’s perfect.
_You ’re 88 years old, _I respond.
_So what ’s your point? _He says.
It ’s a long trip. Remember?
So? Once I get there, I will still have time to enjoy it.
It makes me think about me. When did I become so afraid to take a chance? I don’t know. When did I stop having a mind of my own? Perhaps I’ve gotten too comfortable where I am, too safe in my routines. My elderly father is prepared to take a risk I wouldn’t begin to consider.
We could walk across the street; have a coffee outside. Have lunch at the corner place.
He remembers our neighbourhood in Athens perfectly.
I do too. I just don’t remember where I lost my sense of adventure?
And with this discussion, he reminds me I need to ask myself this question and more importantly find it again, i.e., that willingness to throw caution to the wind and see what happens.
© All Rights Reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, all blog content copyright Stella L Harvey