Dear Eddie,
After putting the phone down to you this evening, with our recent trip to see you at home in Scotland and with a few things people have said recently, I wanted to write to you.
Firstly, to thank you for being such a tremendous father figure to me, you’re Rosanna’s Godfather but you’ve been my nearly Godfather and in so many ways in the last two years, an incredible Father figure to me. You’ve given me so much time and made me feel supported and cared for, loved and thought of. You’ve advised me and helped me to understand a big part of something I didn’t realise I needed educating on, or that I didn’t understand; your advice and time, conversations and stories have been paramount to me; you’ve helped me more than I can probably ever put into words.
With all of that seriousness, you’ve taken a serious topic and many hurdles I’ve been navigating, and made them humorous, funny and happy. Your company over the years, have been some of my happiest memories; stories we’ve shared, from my nappy days, to hunting and shooting with you and how you’ve been an overwhelming support, has been beyond anything anyone has done. You’re vivacious and interesting and full of so much knowledge, understanding and wisdom, but with such unbelievable humour and love, I cannot begin to thank you or put into words how much I appreciate you.
I remember a story I was told once; albeit morbid, of how someone said to someone at a funeral, how much of an impact X person had on them, the person replied “did you ever tell them?” the answer was no… I’ve never forgotten it and while it doesn’t apply to many; it applies to you. I do not mean to be morbid, but I realised how important it is to tell people one loves and appreciates, day in, day out, when they truly matter and when they make a real difference; so this is why I wanted to write to you. It should be by pen, but I really wanted you to be able to read the exact words I’ve written.
I could cry and be sad for years at not having the father I ‘should’ have had, at having to cope with and deal with all of those things associated with that… but as I was told recently, maybe try and rephrase that and verbalise what I have got… and while I have always tremendously appreciated you, what you have done for me, for us, over the years and moreover, in the last two years, goes beyond what most people are prepared to do; your unwavering support and love is felt daily and you have made me feel supported, loved and cared for, in your most incredibly kind way.
I love you to bits and thank you from the bottom of my heart for being the most incredibly generous, kind, loving and thoughtful nearly Godfather anyone could want.
Boundless love… Olivia XX