My Cute Dad

November is a special month because my dad was born on November 10, and because it’s lung cancer month, and I lost my dad to small cell lung cancer.

I was in Great Falls, MT last weekend for another funeral, and had a chance to drive around and say hello to the place where my dad and mom were born—and where I spent so much of my childhood.  WOW.  As I am older now and looking back, I find it striking how brave my parents really were.  They came from poor families and were able to leave home at a very early age to find success and adventure in a world very far away from MT.

In fact, my dad managed to travel around the world many times during his life.  When so many of his peers stayed in his small town, my dad managed to climb to the top of Uluru in the middle of Australia, scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef, and trec across Europe more than once.  I loved this about him.  His curiosity about other nations and people.  He was much braver than me.

We were in Sydney, Australia once over Father’s Day, and it took everything I had just to keep up with him.  One day in particular still brings a laugh.  We had a map, but he insisted we not refer to it as we began an early morning walk across the city.  Every time I wanted to look at the map, he made fun of me, and asked about my sense of adventure.  Well, we walked forever and ever and never seemed to get anywhere until finally we had this “moment” when I asked if he had a plan about where were going, and he said yes.  To the water.  I asked if he was referring to any landmarks if we weren’t going to use a map, and he said yes.  The tower.  I looked at the tower and knew in a flash we were never going to get to the water because the tower was round and were just going round and round in a circle!

Well, I had one of the best laughs I can remember..and he turned a thousand shades of red, giggled, and we finally pulled out the map!  That was the thing about my dad though…we still had an amazing adventure together, filled with great conversation, even as we walked in circles.  He could make anything fun.

Both my parents craved old fashioned candy when they were sick—I think they needed comfort from their past. They ate lots of Hershey’s Hugs and kisses—the happiest candies I know (made in the USA too). I wanted to share this beautiful gift with you, so I am holding an essay contest this month (ends Oct 30), so some lucky person could win a real treat.

All you have to do is go to www.carebox.com, click on the Hugs and Kisses Contest, and follow along.  Write a short statement explaining to WHOM you would send a CAREBOX™, which CAREBOX you like the most, and finally, Why you have chosen this person to win.  That’s it.  Enjoy!