In Memory Of My Father

My father passed away last night. It is very hard for me to say much right now. He was my hero - the one whom I wanted to be proud of what I do. We shared a very close connection which grew stronger in recent years. It is a loss unlike any other - devastating, confusing, unbelievable. I feel it in my gut as much as my heart. His integrity, and single minded devotion to his family is inspiration to me and his example something to live up to.

As I am a visual sort of person I will just let these few photographs tell a more powerful story than my words about a very special man.

 

This is the view that Don loved. Every day it was different as the season and weather and time of day repainted this scene with ever changing beautiful color and light. He loved the country and this was the view from his window.

 

He loved his garden. He had 5 acres under cultivated garden that was a constant delight with beautiful flowers and trees. It is full of turns with vistas in which trees frame distant hills and special plants are featured and every part had an individual personality and places for contemplation that suit every kind of mood.

 

Don bred rare and extraordinary parrots. He was very proud of the fact that there were certain parrots for which he was the first person to breed them. I was there the last time he was able to feed them on his own and I remember his joy when he discovered that amongst a clutch of four newly hatched chicks from a pair of Yellow Princesses there was a white one which is rare and he was able to account for it due to the genetic lineage of the two yellows that he had bred in a particular way.

He loved his birds and they loved him, many of them fighting to gain favored position of standing on his head when he was in the aviaries. They all have names and I know that particular favorites like Kell will be missing him deeply just like the rest of the family.

 

Here is a good shot of Don with three of his sons - Kerry on the left and Larry on the other side of me in blue. This was Christmas 2004. We were having a good time.

 

This is later the same night. Tracy and Robyn managed to get there. They had such a long way to come it is extra special that they could get there. My mother, Jacqueline in in the center and Donna is behind Kerry. We are a close family and at the end Don was able to feel the love of his family and he had the satisfaction of knowing that he had done the right thing by all of us while he was able. Family was everything to him.

 

That is my Dad with me. I adored my Dad and he was so proud of his first born. It seems like a long time ago and yet such a short time ago.

 

Right to the end his first and last thoughts were always for Jackie and looking after her. Their wedding anniversary was just a few weeks ago and on the day before I was talking to him and he said "we have been married for 56 years and I still love her. Silly, isn't it?" They were both fortunate to find the perfect partner in each other all those years ago and it is a mark of Don's character that so long as he could talk his wishes were for Jackie's well being.

Human beings of the quality of Don Johansen are not so common. It is my honor and privilege to have known him, to bear his name, and to have loved him. Rest in peace my beautiful father. I love you Dad. 



 

Comments

[eve]

Such a beautiful expression of your love for your dad. I too am a visual person so can completely relate to your use of images here.
Thanks for sharing it with me.
eve

[Helena Harper]

Very moving. Family is so important. It is important to write down our memories of our families and what we have learnt from them. Their stories are our stories and they should not be lost to time. I have similar strong memories of my father who died when I was 23. This is how I have described my father's passing:

"The body seeks refuge in coma;
organs fail as the days tick by
and hands switch off machines -
a flick here, a click there,
that's all it takes,
not much,
to enable the soul to pass
to its existence beyond,
accompanied by the love
and gratitude of hearts
enriched by its touch."

May you find comfort in the enrichment your father gave you.

Helena Harper
Author of "Family & More - Enemies or Friends"