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I can still picture my poor father as the effect of cancer slowly worked its way through his body. My dad, once an excellent physical specimen of health was now being slowly eaten away by the disease, he always believed that his body was a temple and thus took good care of it. Such a cruel jest of the gods to play on such a noble character.  Half a year ago to this day father was diagnosed with stomach cancer. He took it all in his stride like a martyr urging us to stay together and be strong, I marveled at his spiritual strength as the rest of our feelings were torn to shreds by the news, I vowed to try to be as strong as him.

After several months of what seemed like endless treatments, fathers body was racked with pain and he was left looking much older and feebler than his years. Then the doctor dropped another bombshell, the cancer couldnt be contained and had spread to his liver. This was too much for poor mother and she broke down weeping the whole night through. The sounds of mothers sobs and the ashen looks on our faces said it all but dad remained as stalwart as always merely nodding in acceptance. What else could we do but hold hands and pray to get through that long and bitter night.

We had settled into the droll of hospital life, then one day as I was whistling my time away watching television I heard my fathers weak voice calling. Son I need a favor. Look for the personalized photo mug that you gave me. Remember it? It took me awhile but then the memories came rushing back. I followed dads instructions and went to retrieve the mug from our house. He kept it safely in a closet in his bedroom, as I held it in my hands my mind wandered back to the day we took the photo so boldy emblazoned together with the words Thanks Dad on the front of the mug.

It was right after the end of my graduation ceremony for my undergraduate degree. We were standing around talking when mum said dad and I should take one picture together since me and mum took one earlier. So we stood together, with the awkward smiles and tried to look as natural as we can. Its seldom that we took photographs together even during family trips or holidays because it was either me or dad taking those photographs so we didnt really took photographs together until now. Till now mum still tease us saying how weird our expressions were that day. But, I can see that dad was really happy for me for finishing my studies, and I felt glad that dad finally has something to be proud of because of me.  Few days later I was walking in our local mall when I saw this booth offering to print pictures on mugs and key chains and all sorts of other stuffs such as personalized baptism photo mugs and so on. I think it was a spur of the moment when I thought of getting one of those photo mugs for dad would be cool, so I got one done with the graduation picture printed on it.

When I went home and saw dad there watching television, I was feeling nervous because this was the first time I ever gave him anything. So I just walked to him and said, Here dad, this is for you. He was obviously surprised since this was the first time I ever gave him a gift so he just blurted out a thank you. Afterwards late at night, when I saw him sitting at the dining table holding and looking at the mug that I just gave him earlier, I could see him flashing a smile that I have never seen before and right then, I knew I had made the right choice by giving him that personalized photo mug.

Yup that old personalized reunion mug certainly meant a lot to dad. As I took the mug to him at the hospital, dad flashed a smile at me that practically lit up the room. Son he said When you were born both your mom and me had no clue how to take care of a baby. You were our biggest challenge and also my greatest accomplishmentweve been through a lot of ups and downs together, but on the day you got your scroll I knew we had succeeded and done a good job. A son reflects the father and I am truly proud to be reflected in you, youve become a fine young man who will go on to do far greater things than his old man. At this point I could feel the warmth of the tears involuntarily rolling down my cheeks, dad looked and me and smiled knowingly and I smiled back understanding, he was telling me his job was done and it was almost time for him to take that big bus up to the sky. That moment will always be frozen and framed in my memory forever.

My father ultimately loss the battle with cancer a fortnight later but he won the war. The stars dimmed just a little and the world spun just a little slower the day he sailed away on that golden winged ship. A part of me died that day but I know that a part of him still lives in me. I have kept the mug safely in the closet where he kept it safely out of harms way, it makes me sad and happy to look at it now like bittersweet chocolate. Dad may have been proud of me as a son, but I am even prouder to have had such a father as him.