November 20th is Child Day.  On November 18th will be the celebration of the life of a child for my family.  It will be the funeral of my wonderful father-in-law, Harold ‘Hal’ Smith. Although I’ve only know my Pops for three years, I love him as if he were my own father…in fact they had many similarities….witty, loving, hardworking, decent  family men.

It probably seems a bit odd to be blogging about an 88-year-old man at the end of his life when it is time for children….but all adults were at one time, and some of us still are at heart, children.   I was inspired to do this as my husband ,  Pete,  and I reviewed tons of family albums, selecting pictures for the service Thursday. Hal endured a very difficult battle with cancer that ravaged his body.  In these last weeks, the disease stole our vibrant, handsome father. We will have pictures at the funeral to honour and remember the man that was versus the disease that took his life.  

As we poured over family albums last night, there were no tears. We marvelled at pictures that dated back to the 1800’s with Hal appearing in the 1920’s.  Even at an early age you can see the potential of who he would be as an adult…sweet, loving, gentle, funny. Throughout or visual journey, Hal was surrounded by family, friends, pets, laughter, and love. He grew from a curly-topped cherub to a fresh-faced young many at the “swimming hole” with the physique of movie star to a young man in uniform going off to fight for Queen and Country in WW2. He came home, met and married the love of his life, Cecilie, and welcomed his own son (Pete) who he surrounded with family, friends, pets, laughter, and love. This theme continues throughout his life in pictures of parties, family gatherings, travels, and even work where he and his colleagues started the first home inspection company in Toronto.

As a researcher, I’m often asked to help define and measure success. If I were to pick a measure of success, it would be Hal Smith….to surround others with and be surrounded by family, friends, pets, laughter, and love  and to become a loving, productive, person full of life is  to me the true measure of success and something I would wish for every child in this world. Good-bye Pops….we love you!