I had made a promise to Dad one day. When he was residing at Jubilee Lodge, in Prince George, he asked me to take him home. I asked Dad, if he wanted to go home to the apartment? He said 'NO' home! You know where I want to go. And so a year later after dad had passed, we made plans to take Dad back to Greenwood.
Dad' ashes spent time at Gerald and Pam's, watching TV with them. And then he came to my house...we shared (well sort of) a glass of wine together, where he could not only watch TV, but look out the window. But, we all knew that he was waiting to go home.
And, so on August 30/13 Dad in his cable pedestal, with Gerald and Pam doing the honours, Dad was ready, in the front seat of my car. I was taking Dad home.
When Mom and Dad were living in Greenwood, occasionally Dad would go up town to the "Udder Store" to purchase 6/49 tickets. And so, I decided to do the same thing except with a bit of a Tracey and Julie road trip twist....every time I needed to stop either to use the washroom, or fuel up, we would purchase one ticket...So, I did, Quesnal, Williams lake, 100 mile house, Cache Creek, Midway, and Greenwood. (When writing this, I had not checked out our tickets.)
The weather when we left Prince George, was foggy and rainy and we left the rain at 70 mile house. And the rest of the trip was sunny and warm...summer...a wonderful day for a drive.
As I was getting closer to Greenwood, my chest was tightening up. Like I couldn't breath, holding back emotions...feeling like I would loose it....
When I reached the 2km marker, I said to dad," Dad you are home."
And I started to cry...sad emotions...and I realized, that...my Dad's ashes were with me...Mom is in Beaverdell visiting Martin. And, we don't have our family home any more...no more safe place to rest, relax, heal, hide....so, now it is big breath time.
I needed a place to dry my tears. And so we stopped at the "Welcome to Greenwood" sign. That is where I decided to take dad out of the car, picture and ashes..and take photos, Dad is home... Arno H. Hennig is home....his last trip...
As I was taking pictures, I had notice a couple of vehicles, driving past and circling back watching me. Curious, I think they were, yet giving me privacy.
After I loaded Dad back into the car. I felt like mission accomplished...and we drove into town, and and gave Dad the driving tour...At City Hall, I made the first stop, to thank the staff, for the cards of condolences, the quilt they gave Mom and Dad when they moved to Prince George. And, secondly, I was curious...when I walked into the building... I sensed comfort and welcoming...like...home...familiar... yes I have been there many many times...but this was different. Hmmm, was Dad's spirit already here? Yes, Dad is home...
Dad, and I drove to the "Tunnel of Flags", past our old house, down Kimberly street, towards Roland's ( my brothers house) back through town.
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| Welcome Home, Dad! |
Driving the same route Dad would of taken if he was going to City Hall, or to the Post office.
When I parked my car, and walked around town, I tried to see Dad. I wanted to see the things he was most proud of...wanted to see that yes, Arno Hennig, lived ,worked,breathed and loved....that he wasn't forgotten....that he was. And I sensed he was around me, where ever I walked or drove, Dad was there. And I was trying so hard to be brave.
The family had decided to meet at Roland's house at 9 am the next morning, and we would drive Dad up Phoenix, to the antenna sight. This place is like the top of the world, a place where Dad had Antenna's so that the community of Greenwood, would have Cable TV.
After breakfast, we gave Dad his last ride around town in the VW Beetle which once was Mom and Dad's, that now belongs to Ernie....and at Roland's place, Dad was place in Roland's red pick up, which coincidentally also use to belong to ..... yes, Dad.
I kept having tears welling up in my eyes, and that tight feeling in my chest...I was remembering the times we went up the hill, whether it was work, or play....wanting to see ghosts....of us in our childhood carefree years.
The first part of the trip up the hill was fairly easy going...and the trees had grown, that the landscape had changed since the last time I went up the hill with Dad. Going up the power line road, we had some troubles...and needed more weight... Martin, Ernie, Roland put large rocks in the back of the truck for weight...Ernie and Martin jumped aboard to help us get around the next bend...and like Dad, if there is a will there is away. Dad, would of been proud of us...doing things in The Hennig Style..And I wished Gerald and Pam were there to share the adventure, plus they also have a quad..... And Donna was also working, her laughter was missed.
It was a gorgeous day...warm, you can hear the crickets, and watch the grasshoppers jump. And the smell, the outdoors, the pine trees..breathing deeply, I was trying to get rid of the PG city air in my lungs.
When we reached the sight, immediately Ernie and Martin took out their cameras and started to take pictures of themselves on tripods or a video, recording their memories of the resting place for our father. Roland walking round the area,Mom, using her walker Charlie, walking to the landing admiring the view and watching her boys. Each of us were in our own private thoughts. We explored the area and remembering the way it was when Dad owned the Cable System. There was a large rock that viewed the valley, and that is where we placed the container of Dad's ashes and Dad's photo....the boys found a piece of cable, and antenna, wire... pieces of his livelihood.
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| Made it! |
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| Martin |
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| Dad's rock |
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| Arno Horst Hennig November 11 1929-August 2nd 2012 |
I had written a letter on the anniversary of Dad's passing.
Dad;
I am not sure what I should be saying on a day like today? But, if you were here, standing next to us, I might say this;
I love you. You were the first man I have loved-my father-Arno H. Hennig. I have always admired everything about you, and the things you had accomplished in your life time.
I miss you: I miss our talks, the glass of wine shared on the deck, the stories of the past, hearing about the business, family, family far away, City Hall, and various projects. I miss watching you and Mom together.
Thank you: for being there for me, us during our disasters, triumphs, heartbreaks and cheers!
I shall never forget you walking me down the isle to Don and shaking his hand and welcoming him to the family. Dancing with you at Nathan and Grace's wedding. Seeing the look on your face as you held your grand children, the great grandchildren. Your face showed those proud moments.
I know, I gave you troubles and I asked more from you than any daughter should. From the time I told you about the Daughter I gave up, to asking you to help bury Don.
I am sorry: That I wasn't always there, living far away from Greenwood, I wasn't always the best daughter at the times when you needed me the most.
But, I do know you loved us all unconditionally!
Families, love, talk, argue, share, and sometimes don't talk for months. But, you taught us that we are family and still love each other no matter what.
Ashton, age 8 on August 2nd, 2013, while watching the DVD slide show we made for your Memorial Service said, and I quote "I am so lucky to be apart of this amazing family". Unquote.
I am proud of you dad, of all you did,all you gave,all you were, all you had become!
I love you, and Thank you Dad!
Love, Julie and the Pedde Fleet.
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| Martin bowed his head, and told us all how much he love dad, and how much he is missed |
As you go wondering about your own travels,
whether you are adventuring around
our beautiful province/country
or
Just in your own back yard
scatter these seeds.....and let nature take its course.
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| Mom telling a Arno Cable story |
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| Roland |
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| Martin telling a Cable story. |
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| Story shared, remembering |
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| Mom |
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| Ernie telling an Arno story |
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| Saying Good-bye |
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| The Chipmunk, Alvin's cousin! Residing in the abandoned Cable shack. |
At 11am, Roland opened the Pedestal and so with Roland, Martin and myself up on the rock, Ernie scattered a large portion of Dad's ashes...and a small gust of wind blew...and the dust blew on us all, even to Mom on the ground....we all agreed it was Dad giving us one last hug....before blowing down the valley! The remaining Wildflower Seeds, were also scattered.
We spend some time up on that mountain, looking, searching, like finding lost treasure, memories, from Dad's cabletv days...Martin, Roland, Gerald, Ernie and Mom were all apart of these stories...I listened and took pictures. I didn't have any Cable stories to share, I was either working in Dad's store...or in College, making a life with Don, having babies... And yes, I did feel like an outsider looking in, a visitor, watching, and listening. Good thing I had my camera to hide behind. As I listened to Mom and my brothers, I got to know our father once again.
I admired the look in my brothers eyes, when they were telling these wonderful Arno Cable System stories.. they were lucky to be a part of Dad's Cable System History.
I admired the look in my brothers eyes, when they were telling these wonderful Arno Cable System stories.. they were lucky to be a part of Dad's Cable System History.
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| The View From where Dad's Ashes are located |
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| Looking towards where Dad's Ashes are scattered. |
Our next stop was at the CBC sight... where Martin shared more Cable TV stories. And the boys compared the Mr. Steven's technology to the Mr. Hennig technology.....
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| checking out the relics, the cable/tv of the past... like a cable tv ghost town |
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| Now, if ya hooked things up....would ya get a signal??? |
Our next place to scatter Dad's ashes is the place we called Our Ski Hill...Dad would pull us up the hill with the skidoo, and then we would slide/ski down. In the spring we hid Easter Eggs in this location...and even saw a few Bunnies too...
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| Our Ski Hill, now with trees...Dad's ashes are here... |
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| Dad's View..highway leading out of town, and the slag pile |
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Now we were hot, hungry and thirsty...so we decided a visit to The Greenwood Inn...or as the locals call it" The Bar". Mom in the 40 years of living in Greenwood,BC she had never been to The Bar...so, for Mom's Bucket list and in honour of Dad...we went to the bar, we ordered Burgers and Drinks. And
when our drinks arrived....
we clinked our glasses...and gave a Toast....
To Our Dad!
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