Wise Observer

There is a narrative we all cherished to hear as kids, and that was the one about how my gallant Dad got his face covered with scars. I will narrate to you the storey at the finish of this tribute, a tribute to the best dad a little girl could ever have. His death at the early age of fifty four came in as a shock especially when his designation for the hospital was to get a plaster cast removed only to have him dropped dead in the waiting room.

Eventhough the parting of the ways was abrupt the warmest of memories has still held a strong presence in my thoughts over the 26 years where I was proud to call him my dad. If I could reverse the time back - I would tell him how sorry I was for the times I took him for granted but unluckily that remorse will be brought to my grave where I know being the good man that he was will be waiting for me at the pearly gates with open arms full of forgiveness.

They say the good pass away early and that is what has aided to relieve the gall I felt towards the man up above for taking dad so soon.People picture the word “special” in a lot of ways. So what do I see in my father that makes him to a greater extent special than the others?

Dad and his Fathers Day Gifts served thirty-four years in the army but trouble was brewing up on communist day in Hong Kong where dad was placed. It was the sound of warning signal bells that prompted the evacuation into motion for the folks living outside the barracks to return to the camp straightaway.

8 of us were packed in the rear of an army wagon with only pillows used for protection. We readily obeyed the order to hold our heads down - the Chinese riot mobs were coming out up from the encroaches that lined the route back to the camp fully equipped with all kinds of killing tools - twenty one rocks went in the wagon on the travel back to camp.

The convoy that travelled along now became as burning wrecks.You can only think what the truck and the driver looked like when a onslaught of boulders were thrusted into the front portion of the wagon. Army officers didn’t give a decoration of courage to the driver. The reason was due to a technicality that he wasn’t suppose to drive that day so the acknowledgment was given to the incorrect man who was sitting up in front.

I often question nowadays this day would we all came out alive if the boot was on the other foot, if those drivers did not follow the rules.

The result of that horrifying day was a truck with no windscreen a driver with no face and eight living persons that lived to tell the tale - so now you have the conclusion to my story why those millions of pricks and scars, scarred us for life with special memories of dear old dad.