In his books of essays “Figures in a Landscape”, Paul Theroux has an essay about his Dad; I have read this piece many times over always hoping that I could do justice to my Dad even half as well as Paul Theroux. Alas there is no way.
However, my Dad certainly deserves my best modest try.
Dad was a third generation Canadian. He was born into a very destitute family in Montreal, and the poverty into which he was born affected him all his life. He was for many years an angry man, with a terrible temper. This temper, fueled by the years he was dirt poor as well as his horrendous marriage to my mother, was his worst flaw. I have long forgiven him for that.
My Dad had no brothers or sisters. He was an extremely dedicated son. Both of his parents were chronically ill for 14 years and Dad visited the Royal Vic Hospital twice a day for over a decade. The entire burden fell on his shoulders and he bore it like a trooper. He never ever complained. I am sure that the overwhelming burden fueled his anger.
My Dad barely finished high school. He was too poor to get a university education. He did not read a lot, except for the Montreal Star. He did not have an academic mind, yet he was an exceptionally bright man.
My Dad was a fighter pilot in World War 2, a professional football player for Montreal Alouettes, a designer of ladies lingerie, a salesman and a late life entrepreneur who opened his own very successful business at 61. He retired at 70 and lived like a king with his South American wife, who spoke Spanish to her kids, which drove him crazy. “Estella, how about a bit of English, for Christ sake`.
My Dad had a wonderful sense of humor; He could make anyone laugh at anything, almost at the drop of a hat. He loved hearing jokes, telling jokes and watching comedy. He was a very funny man.
Phil was a man of extreme contradictions. He did not speak one word of French (he could not learn languages at all), and he resented language policing in Montreal, especially at his business. “I served in the RCAF, so I am not about to agree with someone telling me what language to speak, for Christ’s sake”. Yet my Dad added, “If I were French, I would ban English completely.” And he meant it.
Dad also used to tell me about his bombing missions over Germany, of which he was proud, adding that “you need to go to Germany and learn not to adopt any of my biases. Christ, if we all adopt our parents` biases the world would be an ugly place”.
My Dad always, always, stood up for the little guy-the parking attendant, the gas pumper, the newspaper man, the milkman, the cashier. Once we went to fill up gas and the attendant was drinking coffee inside and slow to move, and my Dad said, “I don’t blame him-who the fuck wants to pump gas when it’s 30 below”.
My Dad had something to say about almost every politician-Kennedy was “a stick-man from way back, and his father was anti-Semite”. Nixon was “the poor bastard who got caught.” The Queen of England “did not run away during the war but she stayed put and joined the war effort”. Dad claimed that “Khomeini needs to be knocked off because he is dangerous”. Dad always voted for the Liberals. The New Democratic Party were “almost communists”; the Conservatives were “not good for minorities ” and the Social Credit Party (that favored printing money to cover the deficit) were a “bunch of raging lunatics”.
Dad loved watching boxing on TV. “Hey, let’s open the idiot-box to watch two people beat the shit out of each other”, he would say to me on Saturday night. Sometimes, he would ask me if I would agree to have “the be-Jesus kicked out of you for a million dollars”.
My Dad was an atheist, through and through. He would often refer to religion as “that religious shit”. Our home was not kosher. I was sent to a Protestant school. Not a Jewish school. He showed no respect for any Jewish tradition. Yet when his Dad and his Mom died, he went to pray at 5 am every single day for 11 months “to show some respect, for Christ’s sake.” Then he added, “When I croak, you don’t need to do that”. I would come with Dad almost every morning during these mourning periods. He would joke with the rabbi or cantor (every day as we arrived, he told the cantor that he was a “pure heathen“), and often complained that “breakfast would be better if there was some bacon around”.
Dad of course went to synagogue on the Day of Atonement, and gave me a transistor radio so I could keep him informed of the sport scores. “Don’t let anyone catch you listening, or I will disown you”. I asked Dad why he went to synagogue to atone if he did not believe in God, and he told me “just in case I`m wrong“.
My Dad did not have good hearing; he claimed it was not his problem. He was scared of doctors and admitted it. He was petrified of dentists, and insisted that no anesthesia be used, because “no fucking way anyone is going to put a needle into my mouth”.
Dad smoked two packs a day of Export A and subsequently developed emphysema and throat cancer. When the news came out that smoking causes cancer, Dad claimed that it was a “communist conspiracy”, but may have “a grain of truth” to it.
Although Dad was very unhappily married, he wanted naught. He was very tall, he was handsome, and he was a ladies’ man. He was extraordinary charming.
My Dad was a caring father most of the time and a very loving father for most of his later life. He was a dedicated grandfather who taught his grandson to drink beer and swear. He bought his granddaughter lots of pink dresses! He loved my late wife very much. `She ain`t no housewife, but she is a wonderful woman`.
The longer we both lived, the better our relationship became, and we enjoyed many many good years together. At times, I miss him terribly.
Very touching Alon. I remember your Father as you have described him. I had last met him at his apartment on Cote des Neiges during one of your visits to Mtl. To be a pilot in the RCAF he had to have finished high school and mastered mathematics.
Hi George,
He was very good at mathematics! Great to hear from you.
Allon
Very well written and meaningful – good job! Thank you for sharing.
Thanks chief. You used a few expressions/idioms that my dad used and I used to smile to myself.
Great remembrance of your father, Allon. I loved reading it. You brought him to life.
Thank you so much Terry.
Allon,
Thank you for sharing your heartfelt love for your Father.
You describe a man I wish I could meet. The world is in need of such men.
I see as a complete Alpha male – like you, Allon. Such men are able to understand and live liberty. They light up the world, as your Dad did, with great ability to speak and live Truth. I can see you and your Dad as they type who can be trusted to do business on a handshake. So much derivative stuff comes from such character. With the eschewing of strong males today in favor of beta or effeminate males, this is less of a feature of our society as males become reflexively demential and less willing to take a hard stand for fear of hurting someone’s feelings. Case in point is Biden’s recent flp-flop-flip on abortion – casting aside his principles and his character to appease for politics. I can’t imagine your Dad – or you – doing such.
I am a bastard literally; so never know my Dad, Allon. My stepfather was an abusive alcoholic who took pleasure in beating me and daily telling me I would fail. Both made me stronger. But, reading your remembrances, I feel anew what I missed and was cheated of. From such feelings, I am thankful you had your Dad. I feel very deeply thankful for the view of such a wonderful experience you hand with your Dad.
As always, my best to you Allon. May your walk with your Dad in your dreams.
Cordially,
Ed
Drive On!
Thanks for your very personalcomments Ed my dear friend.
I knew your dad well and remember our “Ville St. Laurent talks”. I remember he loved to drive a big honking Chrysler with a 400 hp engine that got 9 miles to the gallon when gas was 23 cents a gallon and I loved it. It’s true how our fathers came with nothing and made lives for us through sheer perseverance. Enjoyed reading your piece and seeing his photo,
Shmuel
Thanks so much Sam. I remember your dad as well including when we went fishing.
And I remember the car!!!
Hi dear Alon!
Very much liked your piece on your dad.
I remember meeting him on several occasions in Jerusalem.
I remember our having dinner with him in Jeru.
Fun!thaks for sharing.
eva
I remember these meetings very well…. One of them was at the golden chicken !
I would like to add to this wonderful and candid tribute to dad.
One of our father’s greatest legacies was his integrity.
Because of his physical stature, nobody challenged him but he never used that to intimidate others.
He put us children above all else in his life.
For several nights when I was in elementary school he kept me awake until the very early hours of the morning, trying to teach me math, specifically multiplication tables. He by and large succeeded, although I still have difficulty with multiplication involving the numerals six, seven and eight. The overnight education stopped after a few days. The blood, sweat and tears took their toll. We both ended those sessions weeping.
Dad raised his voice but always apologized after. He never used corporal punishment.
He would often stare out his window onto Rue de la Montagne. I could only guess that he was thinking the deaths of his parents. He never had the luxury of truly mourning their deaths and the terrible pain they endured. He kept that buried deep inside, though it showed in his kind eyes.
He was indeed a man of contradictions, but despite his dogmatic feelings about many things such as French Canadian separatism, he warmly embraced all of his Francophone friends and celebrated with them.
Most remarkable was his ability to face difficult issues. Dad never spent a day of his life in the hospital until he was admitted for treatment of his laryngeal cancer three months before his 80th birthday. He would never see the sunshine again.
He never wanted us to have to see him suffer as he did with he was looking after his parents. Despite his fear of death, he took his final days in stride.
I remember during his last weeks in the hospital, the look of fear on his face disappeared. He greeted me with a smile. When I asked him why, he never answered. In retrospect, I believe he was smiling because he was no longer afraid of death. He realized his lifelong dream of bringing up his children and living long enough to enjoy his grandchildren.
He was in his forties when I was born and I always worried that because of his advanced age, I’d never have enough time to be with him. I never missed a chance to tell him that I loved him.
I cried for years after he passed, not only because of the loss of our father but also because of the loss of a kind man, a friend and a precious soul.
Thanks Allon for sharing this new information, context and perspective of our dad.
Phil is dearly missed.
Your brother, Howard.
Your dad looks a lot like my dad and he had a similar personality and background. Thanks for sharing this.
Neal
What a heartwarming tribute to your dad. I feel as though I truly met him through your well chosen words. He certainly passed on his legacy of humour to you.