The following is what I am going to share during dad’s – George Shell – memorial service this afternoon.
I have really enjoyed all the stories, and little tidbits people have shared about my dad. I have loved learning how much he meant to the people he worked with. It has helped make a difficult time easier. Dad talked more about the people he worked with here than I ever remember him doing before. He was extremely proud of all the young men, and women he took under his wing, and bragged on them often.
I think everyone who knew dad would agree that he was one of a kind. He lived life on his terms, and was not afraid to bring the rest of us along for the ride. It has been an awesome ride.
My dad was not only a good man, he was also a good father. There was never any question in my mind about how much he loved me. The childhood he gave me was just as unique as he was. It was a childhood filled with walking up castle steps, being chased by bulls, visits to Disney World, eating Baked Alaska one night, and eating vienna sausage out of the can the next day.
It was a childhood filled with unexpected adventures, leaving me with lots of great memories. I will always remember the camping trip we took one summer – when we were living in Spain. We made it all the way to Germany – in the tent dad had borrowed – before things went slightly awry. It seems the tent had a large leak in it, and more than a little bit of the rain pouring down that night leaked inside. I woke up and discovered my air mattress was floating in water, and my parents had spent the night in the car. Dad always said two things about that trip, one was we would never forget it, and two it was the first – and only time – he ever convinced mom to go camping.
As organized as my dad seemed to be in his work life, the opposite was true in his home life – especially when it came to planning family trips. This was especially evident during that same summer we went camping. We were driving back to our home in Spain – after having gotten my cousin on a plane in Switzerland. The plan was for us to stay in a hotel along the French Riviera. Dad did not make the hotel reservation, he figured there would be no problem finding a hotel during the busiest time of year for that part of Europe. Always true to his word, we did end up sleeping along the French Riviera – in the car.
Even during the week before dad passed away he left me with some great memories. Dad was not really thrilled about the new diet plan he was going to have to follow. So mom and I work very hard to give him meals that were full of flavor. One night I was preparing some dessert, fruit with plain greek yogurt on top. If you have never had plain greek yogurt, let me tell you that it is extremely tart, and does look like whipped cream. Knowing that is probably what dad would think it was, I made the decision to not tell him anything different. So when it came time to eat our dessert, dad dove right in. I will always remember the look on his face. It was one of total shock and surprise. Dad being the kind of man he was, planned on eating the rest of the dessert to keep from hurting my feelings. However he looked very relieved when I told him he did not have to finish it.
Even as an adult, I felt safe, and protected when I was around him. He always was my soft place to fall. and one of my biggest sources of moral support. Dad was extremely proud of how far I have come in learning how to manage my depression. He told me more than once that I was happier than he had seen me in 20 years.
A week before he died, dad shared with me that he loved the life he had lived. He got to travel more than most people, and he had experiences that most of us only dream about. He was a man who had no need for a bucket list, because he had actually done everything he wanted to do.
For several weeks, I have been trying to figure out what I should write for a Father’s Day post. Part of me wanted to express the deep sadness I feel, and another part was trying to figure out a way to keep it more uplifting. On any given day, one option would seem better than the other. It is the night before Father’s day, and I am no closer to a decision.