Last Saturday night was a special event in our Family. Ron, my father in law turned 70 and to mark the occasion his Sister and daughter organised a big ‘hoe down’ with the Wongawilli bush band out at Wongawilli. (That’s the back of Dapto for those of you who don’t know.)
There were over 100 people there to celebrate with Ron. It was an awesome night and everyone was up and dancing; the old barn dances mixed in with the hokey pokey and even the chicken dance meant that no one was left out!
It’s funny, I’ve been married to Sean for 8 years now, and I thought I knew his Dad, Ron, pretty well, but when the speeches happened I was startled by the kind, generous and loving person my father in law was.
I often talk to clients about what they value most, and ask them to imagine their 80th birthdays and what their loved ones are saying about them. It’s a good measure of what really is important to us when we think of the way we want to live our lives. Ron’s brother John, spoke about Ron with such raw emotion, respect and gratitude that it struck me that the true measure of success really is a life well lived!
Ron’s father died when he was just 19, so Ron took up the role of man in the house, and the fatherly duties that went along with it. His little sister was only 7 at the time and Ron has continued to be a guiding light in all of his siblings lives ever since. He largely raised the kids as a single Dad, sewing up ballet costumes for Arjha’s dance performances and even becoming the coach of Sean’s baseball team. Everything was about helping the family and making sure they were happy, and along the way he’s found his own happiness. He still goes to the ballet and the theatre, and still plays baseball even though Arhja and Sean have long since given up their sports.
It’s nice to know I’m part of such a loving, generous and happy family. I hope when I’m 70 I’m living with as much enthusiasm and energy as Ron, and I truly hope that at my 70th Birthday people speak as kindly about me as they did him.
