Today I got my first Father’s Day gift (a day early):
a ceramic mug from Paint Your Own Pottery. My wife and daughter painted it: my daughter’s footprints are on each side, and my wife painted the remainder with blue splotches. She wrote “Happy Daddy Day 2000” on it.
I think I’m going to cry… :):):):)
Awwwww…that is so sweet. My dad died a few years ago, and I still miss him. Your little girl will always need her daddy, even when she’s not so little anymore.
Now I’m getting a little teary…happy Fathers’ Day to you and all the dads out there.
Sweet!
I’m going to call my father and then go down next weekend to take him on the river. He can’t do it himself anymore as the arthritis is really painful. Gods, I hope I don’t wreak the boat! I also thank the Gods that I have reconciled with my father. It hasn’t been easy but I have realized that all I can do is just love him for who he is and stop expecting him to be the Brady Bunch dad. He is who he is and I’ve finally accepted that. I think!
Everyone’s been getting Father’s Day packages aboard the ship for the last few days. The day is here and I’ve yet to receive one.
::sigh::
It sucks being a divorced Daddy at sea.
I’m hitting the rack to wallow in self-pity.
Chief, you sleep? You’re here so much I assumed you didn’t sleep and used your minions to run the boat.
Hi Byz-
I was lucky enough to be blessed with a dad who has been better than the Brady Bunch dad, and I feel SO blessed. I am happy that you have reconnected with your dad. I lost my mom three years ago, and I just want to say to anyone who is waiting to deal with “junk” because you think you will have the time, please don’t wait any longer. I don’t think we really believe that our parents will ever die, we tend to think that they will always be here, and there will always be time to do whatever we need to do. It isn’t true. Forgive them, forgive yourself, love them. They will not be around forever-maybe not even tommorow. Life is fragile, love lasts forever.
Bless you, Byz. Have a wonderful time at the river. Driving a boat is quite similar to driving a car, and I am sure you will do JUST FINE!
Hugs-
Scotti
Scotticher – thanks sugar!
And I say (did I?) driving the boat in that I’m captain and will be rowing with 18 foot oars. It’s not a power boat so if I fuck up… :0
Anyway, I’m sure it will be fine. And I agree with you. Oft times we think on tomorrow when we will let bygones be bygones. But sometimes tomorrow doesn’t come.
My father has done some really horrible things and I’ve talked about a lot of them here. He is greedy and has taken money that was mine for his own use. He has taken property that was mine and sold it. He has even lied about gifts I have given him (mainly, the boat I bought him and will now be captaining). But rather than dwell on that I have decided that if money is that important to him (when it isn’t to me) he can have it. I don’t care. I’m going to love him and accept him anyway.
He isn’t as much a part of my life as my mother is but I can still just “be” around him. I know at times he hates me for not being what he wants. I know he thinks I’m some kind of weird throw back to the 60’s because I don’t cut my hair or have a driving need to make as much money as I could. I’ve done that road and found it very empty. I’m on a new Path, one that he cannot understand, but that’s okay too. I don’t expect him to understand. I wish he could love me the way I do him but I’m okay with the fact that he can’t. He may never accept or love me. That is okay too. Because I love and accept him. That’s all that really matters to me.
Father’s Day is always bittersweet for me since I lost my dad right before Thanksgiving, '82, and my FIL in Aug,'87. This year is also hard because the father of our children is so far away from us. I did talk to Mr Bear already though, and wished him a happy Dad’s Day.
So, for all of you fathers out there in the world, this hug’s for you. Hope your day is blessed and full of happiness and joy.
{{{{{{{{{{Dads}}}}}}}}}}
Geobabe, I can sympathize with your loss. Hold tight to the memories, let them keep you warm. {{{{{{Geobabe}}}}}}
Byz, I’m so glad you have a relationship with your dad now. Scotti is right, we never know how much time we have with the ones we love. {{{{{{Byz}}}}}} {{{{{{Scotti}}}}}}
Thanks, purplebear. {{{purplebear}}}
Byz, you have already learned this, but to anyone else who has had a less-than-perfect relationship with your dad: forgiveness is the only way to go. I was resentful toward my dad for a long time for not being the kind of dad I wanted him to be–he wasn’t abusive or criminal, just not around much and not always very demonstrative when he was. I realized at one point that if he died (he had heart disease, so I knew it was a possibility at any time) and I was still mad at him, I would regret it for the rest of my life. I forgave him for not being who I wanted him to be and started loving him for who he was. Forgiveness was not for HIM, it was for ME. When he did die, I was at peace with him, and I am so grateful for that.
It makes me sad that so many kids today are missing out on having a relationship with their fathers. Too often, the importance of dads is discounted. In today’s paper, somebody pointed out that if it had been Elian Gonzalez’ father who had died, NOBODY would be questioning his mother’s right to custody. Dads can love their children and be wonderful parents just like moms.
{{{{Dads}}}}
ChiefScott, I’m with you. I was looking forward to this day all year, and now my son (15 months) is in another state with his grandparents while we try to find a new sitter for him during the day. So I’m sitting here, rotting away the day while his mother sleeps on the couch. Hard to believe this is what I looked forward to. Anyway, have a good Father’s Day if you can, ChiefScott. And save some room in the racks for me.
My wife got me a cell phone for Father’s Day. First one I’ve ever had. Granted it’s a prepaid one, but still a cool package.
As to my Dad, we wern’t exactly the most emotionally expressive of families. (My wife asked once, seriously ‘Where did you learn to hug? Couldn’t have been from them.’) But being dirt poor and the like does make for a close family. I get along with my parents fine, which amazed the heck out of everyone in HS, when it was “Cool” to brag about fights you got into with parents. My wife loves my parents. My Dad is quiet, works hard, and at nearly 67 still hasn’t retired. Will have to at 70, but then he’ll probably go on to something else.
Still, they’re cool.