My father

Pappa. My hero. My mythical person when being a child. I grew up with my Mamma. Spent all my summers and school breaks with my father at his summer house. Our life was so different from his. Him being very simple, funny, relaxed, a bit flamboyant but at the same time to surprisingly organized. In my home it was rather strict and stiff, I would say it was the straight opposite from my Dad's laid back life style.

He always crosses his legs while sitting in his garden chair reading and smoking. Crime stories. Always a mysterious crime in his hands. His book collection is big. His home very basic. He doesn't need much. He is happy with what he's got. Never looks for extra. Or just wanting things. No, my Pappa has all he needs and that is enough.

He is handy my Dad. Always has a project on the go. It could be to re-paint the house, changing pipes or scraping window frames. Fixing a rotten plank in the fence or putting up a shelf. As much as he is a handy man he is also a handy house man. He cleans, he does the laundry, he cooks and he bakes. He is the perfect host. He is not like most men born in the 40's. He is a very independent man.

One thing I admire the most is that he never has to much on his To Do list. He just has enough. He loves the simple daily routine and I don't think he thinks of house chores as chores. He enjoys it. He is very balanced.

I once asked him how he does it. How can he find the peace to sit down and take a break to sip his coffee, smoke his few cigarettes and read his crime novels multiple times every day. How can he disconnect daily chores and To Do's? He told me he only puts down 3 things on his list every day, i.e. food shopping, clean bathrooms, fix a broken bench - things that needs to be done. He does his chores and then he is done. And when he is done he allows himself to do anything he wants, because the rest that needs to be done can wait until tomorrow. How I wish I could be like that...

He is a great man my father. A bit complicated at times, just like me, and now when growing up I have come to realize that my hero is just a human being like all of us. He drives me insane, we argue when we meet, he has his flaws and his past... He has his opinions that I don't necessarily agree with. He belongs to the older generation and like we all know - you can't teach an old dog to sit... But he still remains a hero to me.

I love him dearly, I admire him and I hope to have him for a long time in my life. He just turned 70 but rumbles around with his grand children when the time is right, takes his daily walks every day and always, always ends his day in a reading chair before going to bed. Because a bed is for sleeping, not reading - says my Pappa. I have a lot to learn from him. On Friday he will come to visit. I can't wait.

Kärlek
Annette