My father in law used to say: “ when your number’s up …”. Sadly, my dad’s number came up on May 24 2026 at just before 8 pm. Boy. Am I going to miss him!
Being in shock is a weird feeling. Your world is tilting and you have zero balance. You feel “off”. It’s impossible to describe and I’m sure everyone who’s been there has a version of their own. But in my off state, my mind has wandered to far away places and ideas.
For example, I called my dad every day (with very few exceptions) and over the past couple of years he’s been able to FaceTime which has been great. Prior to that it was on his land line. The same phone number we had growing up. A number as old as me! 2713435. Just like that there will be no more calls and that number will be recycled. It’s a crazy thought. I’m reminded of it every night. Thanks to my sister for making the effort to ease my pain… we’ve been texting nightly. Chelsey Melsey. It was the greeting I used so my dad would immediately know it was me. I think he knew anyway; our ritual was mutually satisfying.
Keeping with the theme of numbers, 318 is legendary in our family. It was our family street number for many decades. Over the years it also became the code word for poop. Let me explain, my mom used to (over) feed our cats and dogs. Living on a farm they got lots of exercise, but the day after my mom was on food patrol, their poops were humongous! We started referring to them as a 318. Some of our friends, bemused by the expression, now use it in their lingo. Mostly 318 was a base camp for life. We grew up there and when my parents downsized it was bittersweet. When the place was all cleaned out for the new owners, my sister suggested we go back one last time. I couldn’t do it. My memories of 318 are abundant and mostly awesome. So seeing it stripped bare and empty was too much; I’m going to remember it the way it always was.
My dad spent his entire (almost) adult working career at FAG Bearings in Stratford. He loved his job and often brought it home in the way of stories. Many of the stories were about the employees; their trials and tribulations mostly. I think my dad got a good first hand account of human nature in all of its forms. Tales were told at the dinner table (which for many years was lunchtime due to school and factory breaks) and in the car rides. My dad would drive and talk. Say hello to 6203
The bearing business is, as we were taught, a very complex industry involving intricately designed products that were made according to specs of the buyer. A major buyer is the auto industry. 6203 was such a prolific topic in our “lessons” that it was adopted as many of the PIN numbers that would be required in more modern times. If anyone ever had access to dad’s credit card, tv remote etc. all could be easily tapped into with the iconic 6203. Of course there were many other bearings we learned about such as water pump, aircraft and white room precision bearings, but it was the 6203 that was the highlight.
Another coincidental number is 55. My mom and dad met in a small town, Oberkochen, in West Germany after WWII. They met at a dancing school where they had other partners. But my dad set his sights on my mom and that was that. Both of their families lived in houses on different streets and the house number? 55.
There are other numbers of significance in our household: 50, 90 and 120. These are the melding values in Canasta (a card game that was a staple in our life). My dad loved games of all kinds, but Canasta was the one he taught us all. My parents used to play weekly with the next door neighbours. Although it was fun and social, it could also become contentious when my mother (in private to my dad … and us) accused my dad’s partner (the neighbours wife) of cheating. While the cheating scandal never saw the light of day, it is the urban legend that she (the cheatress) sat on useful cards and snuck them out as needed. It makes me smile to this day thinking about how my mom wanted desperately for my dad to take her side and he laughed it off. It’s just a game for fun he would say while my my mom fumed.
In February we all celebrate a day dedicated to love. Valentines Day ♥️ is a special day in our family for a different reason. It’s my dad’s birthday. Our very own valentine was born February 14 1932. He lived 94 wonderful years. And he had a zest for life and adventure and his curiosity was infectious. Whether it was changing a washer on the sink tap or designing parts for his beloved tractor, his curiosity and passion for fixing, helping and teaching was appreciated by all.
I’m definitely going to miss my dad in so many ways. But my memories of him are so vivid and profound they give me emotional comfort.
My dad promised me that he would find all of my pets in heaven. He’s never broken a promise so I know he’s taking care of them and watching over us here. Until we meet again. XO
Retiring at the Speed of Life 