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I'm a Recovering Drama Queen. I got tired of the same old lines.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

His Backbone - Part IV

She dialed her dad's number, "Hey there, Daddy-O".

Her dad replied with his usual "Hiya, Stevie" (the "Stevie" always sounds more like "Shtee-bee" when he says it...and he had been calling her that since she was little).

"Um, dad, I'm going to try and not go all emotional on you, but I wanted to talk to you about something. I was driving in my car the other day and something triggered a memory of my Bat Mitzvah...which made me think of you...sitting at the back of the synagogue. It makes me sad to think that we lost a year with each other. If I could do over that year, I would.

Now her dad is not very good at serious emotion. In fact, the only person he's really capable of doing that with is her step mom. She wasn't expecting him to say anything profoundly emotional. The artist in him makes him warm and engaging...but serious conversations are usually averted whenever possible.

"You were mad and I understood why. We were both working out a lot of things and you were so young. It was too much for you."

"Thank you, dad, and I'm not angry about losing that year with you...I'm just sad it happened, sad we can't get it back"

Without hesitation her dad said, "You may have felt like you lost me, but there was not a moment where you felt lost to me. You were always on my mind and I just hoped each day that we'd work it out. And we did. There's no year to make up for because we never really lost each other."

All these years she had stifled any thoughts about what her dad must have felt during that time and more importantly what he felt about her! That year of "loss and abandonment" that she worked so hard to forget suddenly became a gift for their future...built on the strength of his backbone.

7 comments:

  1. Isn't it amazing how kids and parents see things so differently? I hope this happens for my girl. She loves her step dad and they get along great even while having food fights but it makes me sad she doesn't have a relationship with her dad. Poor kid. nicely written as usual Steph. You have a gift.

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  2. This is certainly beautiful to say the least. Finally, it is all made clear. I sure hope my son will come to this realization someday about his mother!

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  3. So, I'm bawling like a baby right now! This is very touching. What an amazing father. I absolutely love this.

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  4. P. S. That would be really fun to have you interview Peanut for me. Do you think she'd be up for it? If she would, then I'll think of some fun questions. Maybe I can even have my girls ask some questions LOL!

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  5. AGH! Now I'm cring...

    I just love him. Love that he could communicate this, and love that he was man enough to understand. :)

    ...and now I need ice cream...

    (*snap, snap* Achem...Almost Hubs... that's your que.)

    Damn. Now I have to get it for myself.

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  6. In response to your comment... Somebodies got to do it! lol

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  7. You so have to write this story my dear...

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