Tags
children, Dad, Diana Schwenk, family, grief, growing up, Hump Day Chronicles, life, Life's like that, loss, love, memories, parents, Relationships, Stuff my parents used to say and do
I have an old, ugly pair of slippers from Wal-Mart. They make a click-clack noise. The same kind of click-clack noise Dad’s favourite slippers used to make when he walked across the kitchen floor.
*******
Winter 2012
Michaela and I went back east to spend Christmas with family. Dad was wearing those slippers and click-clacking across the floor. The noise drove Mom crazy. The next time Dad reached for those slippers after a trip into Hawkesbury, they were gone.
In the garbage.
Mom had had enough.
So me and Michaela went to the Fairview Shopping Centre in Pointe Claire and found a pair of slippers for Dad at Old Navy. We’d intentionally picked silent slippers to avoid that click-clacking sound. We couldn’t wait to give them to Dad for Christmas. On Christmas Eve we handed the wrapped slippers to him. He opened the package and angrily tossed the slippers to the side.
“I hate them.”
They weren’t his well-worn favourite slippers and they weren’t the kind you could just slip on either. You had to bend down and stick your finger in the back to get them on.
*******
How I wish you were still with us Dad, so we could get you the perfect slippers.
The kind you wouldn’t have to struggle to get on.
The kind you could just slip your feet into.
The kind that would click-clack across the kitchen floor and drive Mom crazy and cause that smile of defiant satisfaction to tug at the corners of your mouth…
~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~
talktodiana 
I can so relate to this post. I have a pair of slippers that my mom knitted for me, and there is no way, it seems, that I will ever part with them. They have holes in the soles now and I’m thinking of getting a knitter friend to fix them.
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Aww Hugs! ♡
Diana xo
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It’s always the smallest things that matter so much when they are gone. Lovely post, Diana.
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Thanks Van!
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It is these little things we remember and then we miss our loved ones even more. I remember: When we children had to make the beds up in the morning , for fun we put knots in the legs of the pyjamas. So in the evening my dad had to un- knot the pyjamas to get them on. Sheepishly we asked the next morning how he slept, and he would say , not well, he had to lay on all the creases the knots made and that was uncomfortable. (He loved it really… he always smiled and was a great sport) I miss him too. I totally understand you!
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Aww thanks for sharing your beautiful Dad memory on this post Ute. ❤
Diana xo
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What a lovely thought…..and there’s nothing like little kids, and parent’s, defiance to make us smile. ❤
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Yes. I agree Colleen. ❤
Diana xo
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I bet he is wearing some comfy slippers now, click-clackiing everywhere and wishing he could hug you and tell you he loved everything you did for him! 💚💕💚
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♡ thanks Karen ♡
Diana xo
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Your post touched me, Diane. It put a smile on my face while making me a bit sad for your loss and your dad’s reaction to the gift you give to him.
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Please excuse me for the typo of your name, Diana.
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no worries. I’ve been called worse haha
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Aww thanks Russ, I wasn’t upset with his reaction. I totally understood. And he loved the warm gloves we got him! ❤
Diana xo
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Hi Diana
Just reading your story about your dad’s slipper,
And the blue ring and your process in missing and grieving for your dad. Fast forward I’m going through process of grieving for my son learning about a new option B. Tearing for that phone call, messages and living with his turmoil and struggling of mental health and addiction. Maybe I need to touch on your word “alive”. Learning to slow down and breath. It’s almost
2 months. The tapes in my head are not worn out from playing. Taking it moment by moment.
A quote I found by: Cesare Pavese….
“We do not remember days…we remember moments.”
Thank you friend,
💙Letty
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Hugs to you Letty. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Here’s a wonderful article I found that may resonate with you Letty. Let me know what you think! ❤
Diana xo
http://whatsyourgrief.com/ambiguous-grief-grieving-someone-who-is-still-alive/
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What a poignant memory Diana.
You have such a beautiful heart. ❤
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Thank you my friend. You do too. ❤
Diana xo
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