Thursday, September 22, 2011

TRIBUTE TO A SPECIAL FATHER

     My late father Harold Haughton-James was born on September 23. Below is a repost - 'SHORT STAY - SPECIAL FATHER' which I wrote for last Father's Day. I have made a few changes.
      
JAN(LEFT) DAD & JUD ( RIGHT)
LAST PICTURE TAKEN BEFORE HIS DEATH - JAN. 1975
       My father passed away when he was 56. At that time Janine and I were only 13 but I will treasure those years as during that time we learnt some important life lessons.


       He was a jovial father and a politician who had no time to consume himself with hate. I admired the ease with which he had friends from the opposition party and how he treated people equally regardless of their political affiliation. The tribalistic attitude of our politics at that time could not change him.


       He started his political career when a Councillor was not a paid official but showed dedication to service. He was a shining example that one does not have to be paid in order to carry out his duties well.  So much so was his commitment that even when he had his first stroke in 1970 and was hospitalized he kept asking questions concerning his duties as a Parish Councillor.


       At times he took us to and from school. On our way home some evenings it was like a Geography lesson titled 'GETTING TO KNOW YOUR PARISH.' We enjoyed his traversing here and there as we got to know several areas in St. Mary - Belfield, Islington, Oxford, Free Hill, Bailey's Vale and Hampstead, to name a few.


       Early in the morning on August 14, 1975, he sat with us on the veranda and we had a good time chatting and laughing.  I can still remember as we drove out with our aunt-in-law that morning she said "Oh, I forgot to tell Harry good morning."  We turned around and saw him as he stepped back into the house. A few hours later he collapsed and died at the Parish Council meeting. As fate would have it he died serving people.


       He was a real church man and served as a member of the Church Committee for many years.  He was also a Justice of the Peace and would sign documents for persons who came to his house at various times of the day from Sunday to Saturday.


       The words on his tombstone tell the story of his life "I have fought the good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith" - 2 Timothy 4:7


       Having lost my identical twin sister in 2008 I have become more and more curious about death. I have read several books including 'Healing Grief' by James Van Praagh. I am here hoping that Janine and my father have already met each other in the afterlife.  I still wonder how coincidental it was that they both died on a Thursday, just before noon and a few weeks before they would have celebrated their birthdays. Dad and Janine are at peace and I know we will all meet again some day.

52 comments:

Sunray Gardens said...

Nice tribute Judy.
Cher Sunray Gardens

Unknown said...

Thanks Sunray Gardens! Take care.

Tracy @ Mama-press said...

Judy, it's nice that you are honoring your dad like this. My father-in-law passed suddenly nearly 3 years ago. It gives us comfort to talk about him in ways like this. I am sure he is with your sister.

Unknown said...

Thanks Tracy! You have lifted my spirit this afternoon. I am sorry that you also lost your father-in-law suddenly. Speaking and writing about them is a good grief management tool. Take care and all the best to you and your family.

Anonymous said...

Hi Mrs Judy :) Nice to meet you as well :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Mrs Judy :) I am Jacob ...
Renee's son :) I am following you also :)

Unknown said...

Hi Jacob,
Greetings from Jamaica. You can call me Judy. I am Miss!:) My surname makes many persons think I am married. Take care and all the best to you.
Judy

Unknown said...

Hi Renee,
Great to meet you! Thanks for becoming a Follower of my Blog.
Judy

Lisa Boyle said...

What a beautiful tribute to what sounded like a devoted and special man. Thanks for sharing him with us!

Many blessings,
Lisa

Unknown said...

Thanks a lot Lisa! Have a great Friday!

JeanetteSchenk said...

This is such a beautifully written tribute.
Thanks for popping by My Own Four Corners. I am following your blog now and am looking forward to reading more. Cheers!

Unknown said...

Thanks Jeanette! A wonderful Friday and weekend to you!

Sheri said...

I love how you share your memories with us, they are so heartwarming and precious. Again, I am so sorry for your losses but so happy you have such wonderful memories to keep until you see them again.

Unknown said...

Thanks Sheri! Take good care and have a wonderful Friday!

Lindsay said...

This was beautiful. My father passed away 9 years ago so I know how you feel.

Vivian said...

He SOUNDS like a GREAT MAN. This is beautiful that you honor him by writing about him so special.

Marina said...

I guess it's really hard to lose a parent when you're so young.. And then twin sister.. You're really strong person! My mother also lost her twin brother few years ago :( I know how hard was that for her.. I am new reader of your blog, so I really don't know what happened to your sister.. Did you write about that in some post I can read?

Unknown said...

Thanks a lot for your comments Marina. I have been through some difficult times and I am sometimes amazed at the strength I have had. God has certainly helped me. My twin sister died of stomach cancer on October 16,2008 shortly before our 47th birthday. I am sorry that your mother lost her twin brother 3 years ago. The loss of a twin whether it be fraternal, identical, early or late loss is never easy. My best wishes to you and your family. Take care.

Unknown said...

Thank you very much Vivian! Have a great Friday and weekend!

Unknown said...

Thanks Vivian! I am sorry that you also lost your father. Take care and my best wishes to you.

Allyson Bossie said...

I found your site on the Friday Blog Hop and I subscribed via GFC as masugr. Hope you can drop by my site soon and subscribe back!
http://mywildcrazylife.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

This whole blog is a very nice memorial tribute for your family. I like it that you're into them. Nice job Judy. Your father is a fellow Libran. Can you validate that Librans are diplomatic in any sense?

May said...

You are such a strong woman.. God will continue to be your strength.

Unknown said...

Thanks May! A good weekend to you!

Unknown said...

Hi Itin,
Thank you very much for your comments. I see that you are also a Libran! I know a lot of them and they are indeed nice people. I find them diplomatic and easy to get along with!:) Take care and have a great weekend.
Judy

Unknown said...

Thanks for becoming a Follower mywildcrazyworld. I will definitely come over to your Blog. Have a good weekend.

Nova said...

Thanks for sharing this...i can see you are very proud with your father...good tribute..now i miss my father...thanks for the visit...

Unknown said...

Thank you very much NovaS. All the very best to you.

Irene said...

This is such a beautiful tribute, Judy! Your father is truly a man to look up to. And I'm pretty sure he and your sister are happy together now. :-)

Anonymous said...

I am a new follower from the blog hop. You have a very interesting blog. Thank you for sharing yourself with us!

Unknown said...

Hi BusyJulie,
Thank you very much for becoming a Follower of my Blog and writing these comments! Take care and have a great weekend.
Judy

Tanya said...

TY for sharing your story! Love you site.
I'm a new follower (via GFC) Playing Blog hop tag, YOU'RE IT! Tag me back at:
http://my-bloggityblog.blogspot.com/ and on facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bloggity-Blog/260564090644111

Unknown said...

Thank you very much Irene! You have certainly lifted my spirit today. Take care and have a great weekend.

Unknown said...

Hi Tanya,
Thanks for becoming a Follower! I will definitely check your Blog and Facebook. Take care and have a good weekend.
Judy

Unknown said...

HI!! I'm stopping by and following you from Blog Hop Thursday. I hope you'll check out my blog Frazzled Mama at http://frazzled-mama.com and follow me back.

Hope you have a great weekend.

Unknown said...

Hi Frazzled Mama,
Thanks for becoming a Follower. I will definitely visit your Blog. A good weekend to you also.
Judy

queensnycmom said...

I'm following u. New follower pls follow me on GFC

queensnycmom.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Hi queensyncmom,
Thanks for becoming a Follower. I will head to your Blog now. Have a good weekend.
Judy

coronaryrn said...

What an awesome tribute to your father Judy! I lost my dad last year ...he died just a few weeks after his 80th birthday. I know we will both see our fathers again however and that is what sustains me when I grieve.

coronaryrn said...

Also...wanted to thank you for joining the Wacky WeekendHop!

Unknown said...

Beautiful story! I have also been very curious about the afterlife, I truly believe there is something more then we can understand until it is our time.I love your site! You just got yourself a new fan. Following you via GFC. Playing Blog hop tag, YOU'RE IT! Tag me back at:
http://my-bloggityblog.blogspot.com/ and on facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bloggity-Blog/26056409064411

Unknown said...

I am truly grateful for the opportunity cornaryn! Take care.

Unknown said...

Thanks coronaryn. I am sorry that you lost your father last year. Like you I believe we will see our departed loved ones again. Have a good weekend.

Unknown said...

Thanks for becoming a Follower and sharing your thoughts Kim. I am heading to your Blog now. Take care and have a wonderful weekend.
Judy

Anonymous said...

I have awarded you with the Kreativ Blogger award. You can read all about it at http://picklejarsandpears.blogspot.com/2011/09/special-thanks-to-mikki-at-moms-best.html

Treat and Trick said...

Your dad has set a great example during his lifetime, truly dedicated and obliging. Have a great weekend dear..

Claire Justine said...

Lovely tribute Judy,
have a great weekend and thanks for joining the hop :)

Quay Po Cooks said...

What wonderful tribute to your Dad. Thanks for sharing the memories with us.

Unknown said...

Thank you very much Quay Po Cooks! Have a good weekend.

Unknown said...

Thanks a lot Clairejustine. I am always happy to participate in your Blog Hops! Have a wonderful weekend.

Unknown said...

Thanks a lot for your comments Treat and Trick. A very good weekend to you!

Unknown said...

Thanks so much Wendy! You have certainly given me a wonderful start to the weekend. I am truly grateful and found your post about it to be very interesting. I will work on my post about it and publish it later. Have a great weekend.

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