Today is my Dad’s birthday, he would have been 87.
We went into the Abbey to light a candle for him and my father in law, and The Lady Chapel stand was almost full.
(This picture from last year)
March 15th must be a special day for many to remember their Loved Ones, but there were two spaces on the edge, reserved no doubt just for them.
On weekdays, there is no morning service, but an Easter service was scheduled for this afternoon at 2.30.
All of the crosses and statues inside were covered with purple silk, and a notice explained it was a reminder of Christ’s sacrifice during Passiontide, the two weeks before Easter.
Mine is not a religious blog, so I will stop here to respect my readers’ Faith.
We sat on the cushioned seats in the Chapel with Maggie curled up alongside us, watching as the two candles took a while to flicker in animation to indicate ‘Our Dads chatting’.
We wondered whether mine would have been permitted a lie in on his birthday, something he never had, not even on a Sunday, when he was alive.
We imagine all kinds of conversations between the two old boys as the candles dance but the image that always comes to my mind is the two hecklers from The Muppet Show.
Suddenly, all of the candles seem to react at once, making me think perhaps everyone represented on that stand today was singing Happy Birthday to my Dad.
It was a warm and pleasant thought.
Happy Birthday Dad.
I miss you.
What a sweet post. I can picture the candles flickering while you think of your dad and your father-in-law. I’ll bet they were both watching over you.
We reckon they are having a good chuckle together over our efforts, projects and living on the boat. There’s not always a reason for us to go to the Abbey, or any other church, but when we do, we light candles for our Dads, just to let them know we are thinking of them wherever we are.