Happy birthday, Dad!

Happy birthday to my father, who turns 75 today! Feel free to post birthday greetings for my Dad in Livejournal.

20 Things I Love About My Dad

He loves learning new things, seeks out new experiences.

He's one of the most active retired people I know.

When Ruth, Jim and I were kids, he encouraged our love of books and literature. We couldn't afford to buy that many books, but we went to the library every week. I recall these visits as a special treat, something I got excited about. Each of us came home loaded down a pile of books to read.

He also used to rent a film projector during the year, and would borrow movies from our local library. The neighbourhood kids would come over for movie nights; I remember feeling so proud.

His child-like enthusiasm.

His love of music. He's fun to play music with:



How well he gets along with young people; he has an ability to connect with kids that many adults lack. His students were lucky.

He's a great cook. I call him for advice sometimes, especially for Japanese cooking.

He took us on family camping trips across the continent every summer when we were kids so we could see different parts of Canada and the U.S. I only found out years later that he and Mom had to take out a loan to be able to afford this...he paid it back when he started teaching again in the fall.

He was one of the first Japanese public school teachers in Toronto (if not the first).

He's brave.

His love for his grandchildren: reading to them, playing with them, teaching them things.



He maintains a positive sense of life despite family tragedies. He's lost a wife, a son and daughter-in-law, both parents, a sister and a brother.

His patience.

I gave him a rosewood flute for Christmas some years ago, and he's put a ton of energy into learning how to play it. Now he plays a keyless flute better than I do!

He's not afraid of being emotional.

He's there when I need him.

His piano-playing. He's encouraged my love of music, putting money into my piano lessons throughout my childhood, encouraging me.



His delight in cool techno-toys.

His love of travel and learning about different cultures.

His love of teaching. Even though he's retired now, he goes to Japan every year to volunteer his services to a Japanese school.

His sense of humour.

He's a fantastic photographer. I definitely inherited my love of photography from my Dad! Here's a photo I took of him waaaaay back with my very first camera, at the first house we owned:




Happy birthday, Dad! You're an inspiration to me. -- Love Debbie



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