My Dad is my hero.
He is totally African even though his parents were British. Africa is in his veins. He loves Africa and not only ministers to Africans (he's a retired pastor and now a missionary) but also prays for Africa.
My Dad is funny too. A very wicked sense of humor with a little bit of boyishness thrown in. He's fashion conscious but dresses appropriately for his age.
Although my Dad is truly African, I that believe deep down that he would love to be a Jew. After all, he already has the nose!! He once said that Christ-believing Jews have the best of both worlds - they are Jewish and have that heritage steeped in their blood - but they also have Christ. I believe he's right!
Here are 30 of my Dad-memories:
1. Standing outside the small Jewish synagogue that was right next to our house in Johannesburg, listening to the Rabbi preach to his congregation.
2. Doing a 'jig' with just a towel around his waist in our East London house when the towel slipped off (don't worry Dad, I don't remember seeing anything!!).
3. Capsizing the kayak he tried to navigate in the ocean at Plettenberg Bay (with me crying on the beach while watching him).
4. Taking me (and each of the kids) to many birthday lunches at the Spur restaurant.
5. Being The Plumber in a skit at church camps (and I was The Parrot..."Who's there?")
6. Being the sammie (Indian guy) in a skit at church camps ("statue?") with a bad black afro wig on his balding head.
7. While preaching, emphasizing that he has 3 points to his sermon (while holding up 4 fingers).
8. His abysmal snoring that would get so bad, he'd wake himself up.
9. Leading trips to Israel and glowing each time he got home.
10. Getting malaria while visiting another country in Africa and nearly dying.
11. His motorbike accident where he nearly tore off the bumper of the car (with his ankle) that he went flying over.
12. Turning on the sprinkler under the ladder my boyfriend was on while he tried to romance me through my bedroom window.
13. His horrible migraines when he'd go white in the face, throw up and spend the rest of the day in a darkened bedroom.
14. The passing of his Mom and how it saddened him.
15. Teaching me cool Zulu phrases and words.
16. The gigantic burger he got as a gift from one of the churches he pastored at (it was easily 2 feet in diameter). My Dad loves burgers!
17. Refusing to do the Sex Chapter with Warren and I during our pre-marital counseling.
18. Walking me down the aisle when I got married.
19. Getting an elephant G-string as a gift at his 60th birthday dinner while at a fancy restaurant. (I wonder who bought that for him??!?!?!)
20. Eating popcorn and drinking Coke while watching the Springboks (SA rugby team) and shouting at the TV as if they could hear him.
21. Painting- I have 2 of his artwork and looking forward to the elephant painting he's promised to paint for me.
22. When he got so upset after my cat Plank sprayed pee onto the watercolor painting he'd just finished.
23. When he had to wring a baby bird's neck after it fell out of a tree in Cape Town and chimed "ding dong" as he did it (Sharlene was NOT impressed).
24. Teaching me to drive in the VW bug (I nearly killed a few business men as I went around the corner of a busy road in Cape Town - all we saw were legs, arms and briefcases).
25. The seriousness he had over each 'calling' he had to a new church - praying and seeking God to lead and guide him.
26. Hearing him cry when we phoned him a few minutes after Jordan was born.
27. His love of Africa.
28. His devotions and mini-sermons on Radio Pulpit.
29. Rubbing the dish towel and hanky whenever he was at his desk or when he drove his car (a habit that he still has today).
30. His passion for the lost (which is still there)!
Happy Father's Day, Dad!
Love you lots 'n lots like Jelly Tots.