Fathers and Sons

Towards the end of an on-line coaching session into Quebec with a coachee of several years standing (on and off, as it should be) who is an up-and-coming senior engineer-technologist with a cautious and serious demeanour, currently facing a crucial career decision having had a rollercoaster of a ride during the last couple of years . . .

Bb [not knowing quite why he says this]: Wait a minute, I want to show you something . . .
C-ee: Ok . . .
Bb [crossing the room to pick up the above photo and then hold it to camera]: This is my dad who died 48 years ago today, almost to the minute, when I had just turned seventeen . . . wherever he is, I thought he might like to see who I’m coaching half way round the world!
C-ee: Whow, really! Thanks so much for sharing . . .
Bb [noting his hitherto robust coachee’s eyes welling up . . . gently says]: It’s okay . . . what’s behind your tears?
C-ee [struggling to gather himself]: . . . my dad’s 75 now but he doesn’t understand what I do or have done . . . I’d like him to . . . and . . . see it’s worth . . .
Bb: How can you make that happen?

The conversation went much deeper than that into how they could affirm their love for each other, irrespective of what either had done or still do in their lives.

I don’t know what made me go across the room to get the photo but, ‘Thanks, Dad!’ for opening a door to help connect in love another father and son, around the world’s block, in the way we have always done..