Conversations with the Old Man.
“Happy Father’s Day Daddy”
“Is that it?”
“Uh… what else do you want?”
“Nuh tting.”
“Ok, then you get nuh tting just like you asked”
(chuckles)
“How are you, my love-ly daughter?”
“Oh, fine Daddy.. just fine. Did Mike call you?”
“He in Korea. Business Trip.”
“Wow, really? And he remembered to call?”
“Yeah.. he watching soccer. He at the game when he call.”
“Woah. “
“Yeah. At least he remember to call Daddy.”
“Well, I guess it’s not so special for you when I call because I call you all the time?”
“No, not so much.”
“Uh, thanks… I think…”
“Ah, stupid daughter. I still love you.”
“I love you too, of course.”
“Try to Daddy happy, always.”
“Of course. Always….so how old are you now, huh?”
“Daddy is … oh, I almost forgot. Daddy is 65 year old.”
“Wow Dad. Don’t die or anything, ha ha ha…”
“Aigoo.. don’t say!~”
“Just joking Dad.. just tell Mike and Charlene to have some kids for you… I’m a long way off from that.”
“Yesuh, I know. Trouble maker. Aigoo.. you findah boyfriend yet?”
“Not quite Dad. You know me. Picky.”
“Too much picky never find the right one. You can find one who is good enough, right?”
“Sure, but good enough is different from what you think and what I think.”
“You know, so long as nice, good person…doesn’t matter if they make a lot of money or anything like that…”
“So I don’t have to marry a doctor anymore?”
“No.. you don’t have to…but I don’t mind still.”
“No Doctor Shorty, though.”
“He still nice man.”
“Yes Dad, I know.”
“Ok, try to be good.”
“It’s hard Dad, but I’ll try.”
“OK. Bye.”
“Hey Dad? I love you.”
“Yeah yeah yeah. I love you too.”
Other Memories of My Dad?
Too many to mention…but some that I’ve blogged follows. I will say this though, my relationship with my father is really a blessing. It’s not sophisticated or very erudite, but it’s earnest, and unconditional. We’ve come a very long way to get here like most families, I’m sure.
The summer of 92, after my mother passed away, my Dad spent a lot of time alone and in contemplation. His son had moved to Korea, his wife had succumbed to cancer, and his daughter, whom he’d had only antagonism and miscommunication with, was his closest family member and she, er, me, I was going off to college.
He sat me down one day and said “I’m sorry I’m not good daddy always. But I know now, I have to be mommy and daddy for you. Please let me try.” I remember crying again when he told me that.
He’s a good dad. And the best one that I could ever hope for.
(And boy do I write about him a lot)
04/20/99
08/30/00
09/13/00
09/24/00
12/12/00
12/23/00
03/30/01
07/01/00
09/30/01
11/07/01
11/28/01
02/14/02
03/27/02
05/9/02