I have many fond memories of Dad when I was a child. A couple times a year the Wrestling match would come to Pembroke and Dad would walk with me down to Thee Place to watch it. He would hold my hand crossing the street and always said “ This is where it’s dangerous” Birthdays were always special. Mom would buy a brick of Ice cream for supper and it was dads job to serve it. He would take a knife and draw lines across the brick. It would often take what seemed like forever before he finally cut the ice cream so each of us had exactly the same amount. Every day when dad came home from work he would come in the house and say “where’s my dog” then he would give mom a kiss. Every evening after mom passed Barbara Brenda and myself would visit with dad. It almost got to be expected. He loved having the three of up there. If Barbara showed up he would ask where the other two were and if Brenda and I showed up he would ask where Barbara was. I remember walking into the house and dad looking at Barbara and saying “ your in the Master Corporals chair” and she would have to move. Dad could be having a terrible day but if you walked in and said “ lets go for an ice cream cone” he was up and in the truck faster than me. Dad was always telling stories and jokes sometimes the same ones over and over. For example when dad killed a fly with the flyswatter he always laughed and said “ the poor man, he will never fart again. Or if someone said “time flys ”he would take his watch off and wave it around the room and say it certainly does. My trips to Ottawa for doctors appointments were always special. After his appointment he always wanted to go to Rocking Johnnies Restaurant which was his favourite. He jokingly referred to it as “Rotten Johny” When dads health started failing he would ask what my name was. I would tell him and he would say “Well that’s a funny name” I would tell him I was his son and he would say “ Oh I can’t believe that” Even when dad was failing he still had a sense of humour. And finally each night before the three of left to go home dad would say. “ I am going to go to bed… cover up my head…the big rock candy mountain. Where all the jails are made of tin and you can walk right out just the same as you walked in…. the big rock candy mountain. And when dad could no longer remember all the words, the three of us would finish it for him. Have a peaceful sleep dad. Love you always Paddy