BOOK

Ever since I was a little boy, my father has told me it is his goal in life to live to 70. Three score year and ten it says in the bible, it has been his goal ever since i can remember. His 70th birthday was coming on the 23rd of February 2008 so I decided to do something big. Problem was, I couldn't decide what to create to celebrate my Dad's achievement, but I decided it would be special.

Then one night while I was sleeping it came to me, like a bolt from the blue. His gift would be a story book of his 70 years of life, written by his friends and family. So I enlisted the help of my mother and got the phone number of every single family member and friend we could find. Then I rang or went to see each friend and asked them to write a story about a special memory or what Dad means to them. Then end result was 75 of the most amazing stories from the people that love my father.It was amazing to get to know my Dad from his friends point of veiw. We also went through all his photos from 1938 and matched the photo's to the stories, it was so much fun.

Then I went to my publisher and we made a acknowledgement, foreward and contents page and set the book out just like a book you would buy off the shelf. It was so exciting, just thinking about how Dad would respond to his gift. Part of the deal was that everyone that wrote in the book, would recieve a copy as their reward. In the end I got 100 books printed, because I wanted a few spare copies. This was my big gift to Dad for everything he had ever done for me and I couldnt wait to see his face.

Mum and Dad live in Queensland so all the family flew to Queensland for his 70th birthday, it was decided that each family member would read their story about Dad as our special way of honouring him. On the big day we all gathered in the loungeroom to give him his presents and the book was last on the list. As he tore the paper of the book and looked at himself on the front cover he was just speechless, almost embarassed. It was actually very emotional but also one of the best moments of his life. So we all read our stories and then left Dad to read what all his mates had written about him. He felt very humble but he had a wonderful 70 years and deserved this gift.

We had the best 2 weeks holiday with Dad, it was such a wonderful time and we flew home on the first week of March.The last thing I did on that holiday was to put my arms around my Dad, kiss him on the cheek and tell him how much I love him.

Three days after we got home my mother rang me in the middle of the night to tell me my father Kevin had died of a massive heart attack. It was like a bad dream, I was stunned and just couldn't believe it. But then I sat down and thought about a few things Dad had said while I was with him. He was satisfied with reaching 70 years he had no serious plans going forward and he told me each day after 70 is a bonus. To me, a bonus is something you don't expect. It was very comforting to know there was nothing else we could have done to love and appreciate dad while he was alive.

The book has given me great comfort, Dad went to his grave knowing exactly how much he was loved and everyone that loved him was able to let him know exactly what they thought of him. It was a perfect tribute to my Dad and I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to create the book just before the end of his life.

The final lesson i have learn't from the Book is to never put anything off, if you have something in your heart you really want to do don't put it off because no one is guaranteed tomorrow.