When I was young Dad used to be magic… He could magic gifts from nowhere. He’d say “I can feel a wish” and I’d almost fizz with excitement. I’d run over to him, asking “Where? Where?” He was never sure, though, where to find the wish. So, I’d start hunting and he’d call out “No, that’s cold” or “A bit warmer there…..” Then, eventually he’d say “Oh… I think it’s hot there” as I hunted behind books in the bookcase or amongst Mum’s sewing things… “VERY hot now” he’d say, just seconds before I found the gift – something I’d been hoping for, longing for, for weeks, hidden amongst life’s ordinary things; my gift that proved magic existed, and was somehow linked to my Dad.
When mobile phones first started to become widely used it was text messages that amazed me, and even now, over 20 years later, I still think of them as being very close to magic… You can just think of something and relay it to someone 100s of miles away… Send them a photo of the view in front of you, a sound clip of church bells from the church opposite your hotel room… My parents loved texts too and the three of us used them to communicate almost daily. I’d message my organised Dad from work “Dad, please text me when I’m home this evening to remind me to…..” or “My lesson observation went ok in the end, so I feel better now”… To Mum “You should have been in Chapel this morning – we sang ‘Tell out my Soul’ and the singing was incredible” or “This is a photo of an outfit made by one of my 6th form – look at the detail!” These messages were as much a part of my daily life as driving to/from work, planning lessons, shopping for food; not a day went by when I didn’t send or receive a message to/from at least one of my parents, though more often from Dad. Once they were in hospital, Mum continued to communicate this way, but unfortunately, Dad – for some reason – couldn’t manage to text properly. At first he refused to let me take in his mobile phone. Then, once he’d agreed to let me, to try texting, all the letters were muddled and confused, so he gave up. I found that really hard because when I wasn’t visiting him – when I was with Mum – I felt cut off from him, whereas when I was with Dad, Mum was only a text message away.
TEXTS 28 Nov 2014…
9.03
Me: How are you feeling today? I’m coming in fairly soon. Just getting dressed xxxx
Mum: I am fine see ynu xxxx
9.45
Me: I’m here but just popping in to see dad xxxx
Mum: Ok xx
16.41:
Me: Are you ok? I’m going to sit with Dad for a bit longer if you are. He has slept most of the day. Xx
Mum: I am ok look after dad give him a kiss from me xxxx
Me: Ok… Have done. He sends one back xxxx
“Speak to your children as if they are the wisest, kindest, most beautiful and magical humans on earth, for what they believe is what they will become. – Brooke Hampton