A Walk In The Park

It was just over a year ago that I met Rob and his wife Barb. They were both such nice people. You could tell they had been in love for some time - 33 years as it turns out. Rob was sort of a genius. Now I don't say that to make fun of him but it was, in fact, true. He finished high school and entered university into the Chemical Engineering program at the age of seventeen. After his first year, and a 3.8 Grade Point Average, he left the program as it really didn't seem to be as challenging as he thought it might be.

Over the next few years, he met Barb, fell in love, married her and then had two boys with her. Rob agreed to be the one who stayed home and raised the boys and Barb would be the breadwinner. Every day he was in the boys' lives and the boys loved having their Dad around every day. Dad cooked "boy food" for suppers (steaks, pasta, chicken burgers, etc). When Mom was home on the weekend, the boys never seemed to be as willing to try Mom's Hungarian dishes.

Rob only ever worked outside the home part-time because his full-time gig was fatherhood. But he had a love of music and had mastered most every instrument ever placed in front of him: trumpet, flute, guitar, piano. He loved making music, recording music and especially just sitting around with other players and jamming.

A few months ago, since both of the boys had grown enough, both had moved out of the house and into places on their own. Rob's work as a daily influence in his boys' lives had come to an end. He had given them the tools to go out into the world and take it on with courage and determination. He had passed along all of his wisdom, values and love of life. The boys carried the tools like the beacon Rob was.

Rob and Barb stayed with us during the Thanksgiving weekend a few weeks ago. Yes the guitars came out and there was much to be thankful for - especially people like Rob in our lives.

Last Monday, Rob took a walk in the park. He loved nature and there seemed no better place that if he were to have his last day on Earth, that would be the place to have it. And so it was. A heart attack at the age of fifty-four ended his contribution on this Earth. I suppose it could be said that his work here was done and that is why he left so soon.

And so it was that Rob's friends and family would gather today at a funeral home chapel in Calgary, to remember his life, his contribution and to do it to the sounds of Jethro Tull, Led Zeppelin and Supertramp - just the way Rob would have wanted it.

Rob made life seem like the walk in the park that it is. We will miss his contribution.