My late father never understood blogging. Or really any sort of public-facing non-scientific personal reflection. Even the words he wrote to himself in his journal were anodyne. Regardless, those words served for him, and now for me, as a logbook, and one that, on this Father’s Day, allows me to draw him a little closer. Here’s what he wrote over the years:

1996

Calls from all my sons and Nana in honour of Father’s Day.

1997

Call from John with Father’s Day wishes.

2000

Father’s Day call from Stephen.

2003

Call from Stephen to wish me a happy father’s day, good long chat.

Father’s Day call from Peter.

2004

Got to Mike’s at 1250, great birthday and Father’s Day cards from him and stopped to admire his balcony plants and new barbecue.

Call from John with birthday and Father’s Day wishes.

2006

Morning calls from Peter and Steve to wish me a happy Fathers’ day, Steve called back again and we had a nice long chat.

Father’s Day call from John and had a long conversation.

2008

After dinner, Peter called to wish me a happy Father’s Day and we had a long conversation about many things.

Steve called to wish me Happy Father’s Day and I had a nice long chat with him and then I called John and did the same.

2010

My 73rd birthday and Father’s Day too!

Call from Johnny, also a cute Happy Birthday phone message from A.

2011

John called to wish me Happy Father’s Day and I remembered to wish him the same just before I hung up.

Happy Father’s Day, Dad.