I took a break from the blog after my dear father passed away this summer. I didn't intend to stop, but I guess I lost a bit of the joy of life with his sudden passing. As much as we all know that our parents are going to pass some time during our lives, one is never really prepared for the great loss we feel when it happens.
In some small way, my blogging about life in Canada's Arctic was a tribute to my father. He wasn't able to travel, but always sought out opportunities to learn about places he wouldn't have the opportunity to go to himself. He passed that love of life and adventure on to me, always encouraging me to venture out, meet new people and experience all that life had to offer.
During the last time I spent with my dad, we poured over maps of the Arctic, looking at its topography and talking about the places I'd been and the many adventures I'd had. He loved hearing about my adventures and I loved sharing them with him. I remember him with a big smile on his face, telling me to be careful and not pet the polar bears. My dad had a great sense of humour and this was his light-hearted tribute to my love of animals and my immense enthusiasm for seeing a live polar bear!
As I return to my Nanook blog, I do so with my dad close to my heart. I hope that the Arctic adventures I"ll share will continue to bring joy, not only to my family and friends who are following it, but also pay tribute to my father's passion for life and adventure. And, when I finally get to see that polar bear, I'll keep his last words of wisdom close at hand!
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