A week ago, we drove up to Amsterdam to visit my brother and his adorable little family. We enjoyed each other and the yummy food: tea, cheesecake, pumpkin soup and quiche - all of it home made by my lovely sister-in-law. A day to remember! I apologize for the quality of some of the pictures, it was getting so dark so early :( BOO daylight savings time!
and yes, my boyfriend was there too! Or did I share this picture already? Yes, my boyfriend is secretly the Blair Witch.
I didn't feel like posting about it, but it was my dad's birthday yesterday. I was surprisingly good at dealing with that fact mentally, but I was sick and dizzy all night so I guess it had its impact on me physically. Ah, grief, it's a strange thing. My guy and me drove over to Albert Heijn (a Dutch grocery store) that day. I have so many memories of going grocery shopping with my dad at Albert Heijn since he always made it feel like a celebration of life and food. Or maybe it just felt that way to my childhood self because my dad was seldom at home for the drudgery of everyday life: whatever we did with him felt like a special occasion.
When we exited the shop, my love and me ran into a little stall selling fresh Dutch donuts aka oliebollen. It felt like a tribute to my dad to eat them on his birthday, sitting in the trunk of our car, feeling the faint autumn sun on our faces. I had a nice little moment of being thankful for what my dad (and mom) imparted to me: a love for good food, for the small things in life, for
sharing things that make you happy with the people you love. Being there in the moment, being aware of who I was and where I came from. That's what my dad taught me, to eternally be the proverbial kid in the candy store. And that's what I'll remember.
Happy birthday, dad.
PS: it's a bit ridiculous how much I look like him. Peep me around the same age here. My adult self even looks like him if my hair is short, seriously look at this. Blood is thicker than water.
PPS: It's amazing how many of my best family memories revolve around food.I guess that's a thing. Do you recognize it?
PPS: It's amazing how many of my best family memories revolve around food.I guess that's a thing. Do you recognize it?
Lovely post, dear, thanks for sharing the memories. And you do look so much like him! xo
ReplyDeleteAh! Olibolen! Such a treat :) Beautiful post! It's crazy how much you look like your Dad :)
ReplyDeleteJe lijkt echt erg op je papa, mooi om te lezen dat je hem in kleine, alledaagse dingen herkent. Mama en papa Bels did a good job, je bent een sterk mevroutje Annebeth (ik wil de term straffe madam niet gebruiken) X!
ReplyDeleteWow, jij bent inderdaad helemaal de papa. Vooral jullie ogen. Ik vind het echt super hoe mooi je kan schrijven over je vader, ook al kan het niet anders dan moeilijk zijn.
ReplyDeleteonze tandarts zei dat ik zelfs zijn gebit had maar mijn vader had twee neptanden dus dat kan geen compliment geweest zijn! :D
ReplyDeleteSweet family moments, thank you for sharing. Happy birthday to your father, wherever he is now. He is sure in your thoughts and in your eyes, you totally look like him. And yes, best family moments ALWAYS involve food! :)
ReplyDeleteWow, you totally look like your dad! I am my mom's doppleganger when we were both little but I don't think we look alike now. Seems like you had a nice way to honor your dad. Also, I'm sure some family time helped to ease that a bit. :)
ReplyDeleteI love this post. Family is the most important thing. Followed by food. And then wine. Looks like you've got a loving (and cute) family... and you do look a lot like your dad, happy birthday and a doughnut to him.
ReplyDeleteHeel mooi geschreven, je ziet dat hij nog steeds dicht bij jou staat. En de foto's zijn inderdaad 2 druppels water!
ReplyDeleteYour nephew is soo adorable! I love that first photo! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd yea, the first major holiday after someone passes is always a hard thing. When my Grandmother passed away US Thanksgiving was our first holiday without her and it was a bit strange. It is still weird to this day and that was 11 years ago, but she is always in our hearts :)
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Je bent inderdaad een vrouwelijke versie van je papa :). En familie is inderdaad belangrijk. Eten is nu eenmaal het leukst van de dag en vaak ook de enige moment dat je nog eens met z'n allen aan tafel zit. Want iedereen heeft het toch zo druk tegenwoordig. Daarom dat eten net zo leuk is denk ik, omdat je het met andere kan delen en terwijl wat kan babbelen over de dingen des levens.
ReplyDeleteJe lijkt echt superhard op je papa! Heel mooi hoe je vertelt over de herinneringen. Prachtige post!
ReplyDeleteGlad you have a good bond with other members of your family. Our family has never been close.
ReplyDeleteI know your relationship with your dad wasn't easy, but at least you can hold on to these little moments with him. It's better than nothing and probably a lot better than some memories I have about my father.
And he's there every time you'll look in the mirror.
Mooi gezegd (l) Ik dacht eerst dat het een foto was van jij verkleed als een jongetje :o
ReplyDeleteMy mom's birthday is on Sunday (she died three years ago) and I haven't been handling it very well this year, so this was a nice post to read. Thank you :)
ReplyDeleteyeah it's ups and downs I guess. I'm glad to hear it helped you in a way :) hugs!
ReplyDeleteAwww. So sweet of you. Family bonding's are the best. <3
ReplyDelete