Friday, January 13, 2023
Nepal Bhowmik was my father-in-law. I met him almost 20 years ago, shortly before I asked him for his blessing to marry Sunita. He always treated me like a son. Sunita always said that Dad and I had a lot in common (namely, our particularity) so maybe that is why we got along well.
Around the time we got married, Dad began his quest to travel the world--a lifelong dream that was probably borne when he was a student in Germany. After our reception in Edmonton, he and Mom visited the Rocky Mountains. For our first anniversary, we traveled with him and Mom to Alaska, and they went on to Hawaii. Then, there travels became more adventurous--Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia; Asia; Europe; a 50th anniversary cruise to the Caribbean; the Western U.S. states; and South America, including the Panama Canal. Their last big adventure was interrupted by COVID, when their African cruise could not find a port. Even then, he was undettered, always with a travel brochure on his coffee table. His last trip was a rail journey to see the fall leaves in Western Ontario.
When I think of Dad, I think of perseverence. He had so many things going against him from a young age, but ended his engineering career literally in the stars by helping design the Canadarm. I have so many memories of him, but my favourite are his love of children--not only his grandchildren, but any kids that came to visit him. I will miss you Dad.
