When I was quite small, I asked my dad what he would buy for himself if he had all the money in the world... he thought about it, then said he'd always wanted a sailboat. Dad always loved the water - when he was a teenager, he worked summers as a lifeguard at the Toronto Island Yacht Club. Back in those days he belonged to a swim club in Etobicoke run by Gus Ryder, the trainer that worked with Marilyn Bell who later swam across Lake Ontario. My brother and I loved when he'd come with us to the local swimming pool. He was a pretty low-key guy, but if we pleaded enough, he'd do some fancy dives off the diving board. More than once I heard applause. I swore that when I grew up and became a rich and famous artist, I'd buy him the best darn sailboat that money could buy.
The rich and famous thing hasn't happened (at least not so far) and sadly, Dad passed away last October - by now, he would have been none too steady on a sailboat, but that memory has always stuck with me. Today is his birthday - he would have been 81 - we'd have had cake and he'd have blown out candles... I really miss you Dad.
The rich and famous thing hasn't happened (at least not so far) and sadly, Dad passed away last October - by now, he would have been none too steady on a sailboat, but that memory has always stuck with me. Today is his birthday - he would have been 81 - we'd have had cake and he'd have blown out candles... I really miss you Dad.
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