My One & Only Lovely Dad

Have a happy father's day!

This year, father’s Day can be an emotional time of year because my dad is no longer with me. But whether you’re young, old, a parent, or child, just because your father has passed away doesn’t mean you have to bury yourself under the covers and wait for the day to be over.

One of the best ways to grieve the loss of my father on Father’s Day is going to the cemetery. To remember my loving father, I foster warm memories and live the happy and joyful life my father expected me to live.

Looking back

I have always bragged and unapologetically been proud of my father who is undoubtedly the most handsome, generous, and loving man. He had natural gravitation that made him loved by many.

Why do I feel this way?

He never had the opportunity to receive a formal education but his curiosity and ambition enabled him to find innovative ways to learn. He built his knowledge by veering into school windows and reading books and newspapers to grasp the material!

Everything he learned, he learned by observation and he mastered the ability to speak many different languages, including Teochew Chinese, Cantonese, Mandarin, and Vietnamese.

He took two roles in my close-knit family after my mom passed away in the solemn year of 1986. He worked hard to care for his children. His nobility never once allowed him to complain and he graciously took on the role of both mother and father. To the end, he was always independent, never imparting his burden to his children, and always putting the needs of others before himself.

His generosity was shown through his love to give to others and never ask for anything in return. A man of principles, he willingly gave from his heart.

His true one-of-a-kind nature was stern yet loving; a man of simple words, who showed his love through meaning and action. He was of strong character, both mentally and physically, and at the end of his life, he showed determination with commitments to being a righteous man.

Dad, I am missed dearly you and your efforts will forever influence and deeply impact my life forever.