Mark Twain once wrote “that as a young man he felt he was wiser than his dad – until he became a dad.” The foregoing I share as proof: ‘Father always knows best.’ Enjoy this banter with my Dalton Sons – Ya think it easy!
Fu Manchu’s sons: “Thank you for that very flattering account of my ‘everywhere’ Dad. My brothers and I are truly lucky to have him. He is an amazing father because of the way he made our childhood so rich with experiences. His kindness to all our young friends, his overpowering enthusiasm for anything he’s involved in, and his ability to have fun while working hard is truly a gift. The pranks he played on us as kids, the pranks he played on our friends, the pranks we watched him play on his friends, speak volumes of his humour. Often times, my brothers and I would hear our friends say in envy, “You guys are lucky; you have a cool dad.” We of course sometimes beg to differ. Here are some snippets to prove otherwise…
How come he could remember the precise score of the Central High v Queen’s College cricket match in 1953, but could never seem to get our names right?
Dad: Hoping for girls to name – Joan, Mary, and Shirley. Kinda hard to remember boys’ names. And worse, to recognize siblings, especially when the clothes were all ‘hand me downs’ from eldest to youngest.
Having to wait for him to bring home ‘cook-shop’ food late in the evening.
Dad: After 11pm the cook-shop sale was half price on leftovers. Had to find some way to feed alya 3.
Hearing him sneaking out early to get the newspaper on the day the Common Entrance results were published.
Dad: With you three slow-like-snail learners, preferred to be shocked early morning
Being amongst the first kids roller-skating in the city.
Dad: And Dad with pillows front and back teaching 3 non-athletes to skate, and de ‘ol man’ falling all over the road, like rain. Hell more bruises than Bruiser Thomas!
Attending the cinemas in theme costume? We remember going to the cinemas as Batman & Robin, Lone Ranger , Zorro, and US soldiers, etc.
Dad: Children in costumes with parent got in free – saving 4 pit tickets.
Showing up to play ‘war’ or ‘cowboy and indians’ with your friends, and you’re dressed authentically enough to play a lead role in a Hollywood production?
Dad: Anything to show off on the neighbours – and help my boys catch the girls.
To have my home assignment crib dwarf all the other children’s presentations.
Dad: That was a three-storey deluxe designer state-of-the-art manger, complete with wall-to-wall carpet and washing machine.
Hearing the greeting, “Here comes Animal and the young Animals,” when we arrived daily at Cosmos Sports Club
Dad: Excuse to leave alya at the Club, and father to go ‘stray.’
Presenting our Dad with our invitations to teenage fêtes, and then cringing as he called up the parents, and offered to be the DJ.
Dad: My thanks for trying to raise the teenage quality of dancing with waltz, tango, cha cha cha and paso doble.
Having other parents wait patiently in their cars while picking up their kids from fêtes, while our dad had to come in to make sure he ‘cut a rug’ in front of all our friends.
Dad: This John Travolta Dad had to carry on the Fred Astaire traditions in the family, when his three sons and their friends… all left footed.
Having our Dad insist on throwing a fête for every possible theme – Grease, Saturday Night Fever, Valentine’s, etc.
Dad: When the sons can’t get dates, had to find some way to help them pick up girls.
Watching him wheel out his speakers on Christmas morning to serenade the neighbours, Muslims and Hindus all, with his church chimes.
Dad: The least Father can do – after borrowing the neighbours’ LPs.
Watching his proud expression as the whole of Georgetown seemed to drive past our home to view his life-sized nativity scene.
Dad: Should have blocked off the cul-de-sac at Belvoir Court, and charged.
Having him play a major role at every single secondary school event at St Stanislaus and St John’s.
Dad: Had to offer some service – when school fees due for the last term.
Pushing his car down the block with our teenage girlfriends before starting it to race off to fêtes while he slept soundly.
Dad: Father knew all the time – but hoped the car would help them score with the girls.
Having him entrust me with driving our family cars at the age of 16.
Dad: After de Father’s ‘drunken binge’ the night before – wake up to drop to school 8am next day kinda hard.
The pride of being the first kid of my generation to drive to school in 5th Form instead of fighting for a space in the bicycle shed.
Dad: Had to find some way for my brood to compete with their friend Robin – being picked up in his grandfather’s open-back limousine.
Driving to school in our family car that he’d covered with flower decals in the late sixties.
Dad: I was the first to introduce Flower Power in Guyana, 1968. Rushed to take them off when on the sea wall late a fella passed and said, “I know this car from Howes St.” Hell, Guyanese so ‘fast’; he even looked in the back seat.
Picking up all the young ladies to attend teenage fêtes.
Dad: And they leave their lipstick and make-up in de car, and Madam Ex accuse innocent me of straying ‘night outs.’
His cheery acceptance when me and my best friend Robin installed the car battery with the poles reversed, and burnt up the electrical system.
Dad: And both promised to pay for the repairs as soon as they working. Hell, 30 years pass, and dem two na find work yet.
Showing up at the sea wall at Easter with a kite that required 5 adults and 6 kids to fly and control.
Dad: Hell! The advertising on the kites paid for meals.
Him stuffing the car full of kids to attend the drive-in movies, telling us to hide under blankets to sneak in, then turning us in to the ticket collector.
Dad: Father’s revenge – No gifts on Father’s Day
Taking all our friends to motor racing at South Dakota.
Dad: Excuse for father to ‘bird watch’ also.
Him trusting me to take off into the bush on unsupervised camping trips. Thank goodness he never found out that running across the Timehri airstrip in defiance of armed soldiers and landing aircraft was a rite of passage amongst the tougher boy scouts.
Dad: 3 days away from home – one less mouth to feed.
Fighting with him over the comics, Tin Tin, Biggles, William, etc.
Dad: No respect for seniority.
Playing ‘mas’ in costume bands that he designed and created.
Too many more to list – Brian, Gary and Richard
Dad: We Fathers can reminisce today, and thank you sons and daughters for all the joy, fun, and laughter (headaches and heartaches), with which you enriched our lives. Just don’t forget the Father’s Day gifts. Ya think it easy?
Golden Memories of Guyana 1940 to 1980 is available at Austin’s Book Store and Shell Gas Station, Vlissengen Road..
