My Dad...I Miss Him....

I hope you called him and told him all of these things because really, this message was meant for him. Thank you for sharing. My relationship with my father was a strained one growing up. He and my Mother divorced when I was at a very young age. While at first he was an active father and parent in my life, visits and phone calls slowed to a halt. At times, we've gone over a year without even speaking. Around when I turned 26 or 27 and having dealt with an on-and-off relationship I confronted him, as an adult, and shared with him what my childhood was like without him around much. It was something I needed to tell him and I also had numerous questions that began with the phrase, "Why..". We talked for several hours and he answered every question I had. I learned a lot about his own upbringing and his father who was nonexistent. In the end, I forgave him but I'm not sure he's ever really forgiven himself. Now, we have a normal and functional relationship - though I wouldn't say we're "close". We just have an understanding of each other and our relationship.

My dad was in the navy and I have a picture of my mom about seven months along with me standing in the doorway of their then home. My mother seperated from my dad when I was only about six months old. I saw my dad on week-ends and had some special times with him. When I grew up and had a child of my own I wanted my dad to meet her and she and I were invited to a Easter family event with his side of the family. He said next to nothing to my daughter and spent all his time with this other neice of his all that day. I was devistated. He and I were estranged for years after that. I didn't see him until one day I got a phone call from my uncle one day telling me my dad was in the Vet's hospital and was dying from cancer. I collected my photo albums of my family and went to visit him. It was the last time I saw him. Would I have done things different'y if I had it to do again? I don't know that I would.