For Dad

 Louis Smith 1947-2023

You were the best of times and the worst of times.

You chose a path through life that wasn’t easy. Going left when you could have kept on the straight and narrow, saying yes when the better answer would have been no.

It was, at times, a crazy life.

But dad, you were so much more than the struggles.

You were donuts and milky coffee on Saturday mornings.

You were top 10 singles and Monty Python.The Beatles, Madness and The Rolling Stones. Dancing fish and black cats.

You were the quintessential 70s dj. You were camping parks and Kentish summers. You were barber shops and dinner dates in London. Stilton at Rules and rib roast at Simpson’s. Dad jokes and pub quizzes. Facetimes and WhatsApp messages.

You were friends with all my friends. You drank endless cups of tea with Ouisa in Malta. Held Jo’s hand when she first gave blood. Shauna remembers that mischievous twinkle in your blue eyes. Rachel precariously guided you and her in-laws on Torrey Pines cliffs. And I’ll never forget then trying to get the three of you around those stairs on the USS Midway.

To my boys you were dad dad. Afternoons behind the bar learning to pour their first pints, sneaking crisps and chocolate. Alfie’s musical accolades at the turntables are for sure channeling his dad dad. Alex loved watching tv with you, sniggering at all your inappropriate rants. You never forgot when he had a school test or a rugby game and watched so many of his tries patiently through a grainy phone screen - I knew you could never really see anything but you never hung up! You and Josh shared laughs and Gregg’s sausage rolls. And to Albie, you were grandad. Laughing together at Mr Bean movies and Mrs Brown’s Boys. Albie was the lucky one - he got to play your last game of Uno with you.

And to me dad? You were just you. Still so engaged in my every day life despite the thousands of miles between us. You joined Arlo and I on so many dog walks yet you never met my lovely boy. The last few months your spark returned and we laughed a lot together, just like we’ve always done. I'm so pleased we got to meet the real Elvis in Vegas and you experienced our lives in San Diego.

These final years were so hard on many levels. But you found your peace and in the end got the show stopping finale on the biggest day of the year, guaranteeing you will never be forgotten.

In one gentle moment, you went from being a person to becoming a memory. Dad, you're a memory I will treasure forever.