| Eulogy for Don Blair |
| Picture a boy hearing the sound of a plane overhead and watching it all the way to the horizon...
Picture a young man dreaming of travel and joining the Air Force to be near airplanes ... Imagine a young man taking his family to every airport he ever lived near to watch the planes ... This man took pictures of planes ; He went to air shows to watch planes ; He bought books on planes ; He got books on planes for birthdays and Christmas ! What does this tell you about Don Blair? You�re darned right he liked planes! Dad has an 8 mm camera he bought when I was just a little girl. I remember when we used to watch the movie films he took. Each 3 � minute reel consisted of about 2 � minutes of planes landing and planes taking off � then a quick shot of his wonderful family (pretty sure it was us anyway � I said it was quick!), then back to the planes again. I think the last time we watched those films, even he was making sighs of disgust! Nobody could remember where those planes were landing or taking off from anymore! Dad sure loved to camp and be outside. I remember camping at Gull Lake when I was very young � and we were probably camping even before my memory kicks in. The days of tenting lasted over many years; much to Mom�s chagrin, I�m sure. Mom and Dad had different attitudes about what you do when you get to a campsite. Mom wanted to get the tent up and organize things. Dad thought you should crack open a beer and relax for awhile. I think most times they both won that argument � Dad got his beer and Mom put up the tent! Finding the camping land near Sundre was a great buy for Mom and Dad. Nearly an acre of privacy next door to great friends, with more great people to meet, which they did. It was a lot of work clearing out the brush for a place to put their trailer (yes, a trailer!) but that place became their home every summer. Us kids have been fortunate enough to have built up some wonderful memories of good times with them and the people who congregated at their campsite during �happy hour�. We�ve missed them since Dad had the stroke in December 2001. Even though it seemed to me that Dad really left us on that day, he continued to show the same stubbornness and strength of will he always has, and he fought a good fight. He survived when the doctors didn�t think he would, and he walked when the doctors thought he couldn�t. He also continued to draw people to him. The nurses and support staff at the Foothills Hospital and the Colonel Belcher have repeatedly said he was a favourite of theirs. I guess a caustic wit, a sharp tongue and a few cusses continued to endear him to many! The last few months saw Dad start to lose the battle, but he went out the way we all want to � peacefully, painlessly and with his loved one at his side. Cheers, Pop. We�ll be hoisting a few for you this afternoon. - Sandra Dowks, daughter |