Monday, October 23, 2006
Ode to a dog walker
I started thinking about Mr. Barrett today after hearing/reading some stuff. Usually on my walk to the bus stop every morning I would see him walking the dog around the block. And I'm not sure whether he knew who I was or if he was just doing it because he would pretty much see me every day at the same time, but he would always give me a smile if I threw a glance his way. That smile would often change my outlook on the day quite significantly... all it took was a smile.
The fact that I knew him more or less solely as "Johanna's dad" and "the guy I see walking the dog every morning" really makes me feel like I should be getting to know people better. You'd never know if someone could have been a really great friend of yours or something if you never gave it a shot. Then you realize this when such options are no longer available to you. Just something to think about...
... I don't claim to even begin to realize what something like this must feel like for someone. I have never experienced a major loss in the family. So I really have no idea what to say or how to relate to this with anyone. So instead of trying to say anything, I made that picture.
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thats the sweetest thing i've ever heard you say :)
kathleens thought, written by jonathan
yeah i heard about him taking his daily walks...i wish i could have met him more than I did. But it's nice that you drew rather than wrote it. Words are hard to come by right now
the sketch suits.
sadly enough, i only knew him as johanna's dad also. just like i know a lot of people's parents just as their parents, not so much as people that I would try and know as a friend.
aw man. i know. i just want to take the time and know everyone now.
memories, that picture.
you're not expected to get to know everyone, that would be overwhelming.
and then imagine how you would all be feeling if you had been that much closer to mr. barrett.
and then imagine that you felt that way every time anyone even remotely close to you died. or even hurt.
but i understand the thought behind it.
give her that sketch, she'll really appreciate it
I knew him as brent, my neighbour, my best friend's dad, the person who taught me to play ice hockey and who could never get a goal past me and when I think of all the memories I have of him it absolutely kills me to think of his family. Johanna, Melissa, burying their father, to think they won't be walked down the aisle, Susan, burying her husband the person you vowed to spend the rest of your life with, his mother burying a son which i think is the most unfair horrible thing someone ever has to do.
I cried everytime I looked at Jo for two days. Seeing what's behind her eyes... Seeing the holes in her life..
Feel so helpless
we're all so uplifting.
yeah andy, but it's hard to try and look at it in a positive way...though all the memories people shared at the funeral and other places were nice to hear.
walking the dog is something he loved and something jo loved her dad for. good drawing phil and i agree with calida. jo would appreciate the drawing :)