My Dad

[cjsmith]

My dad was in a minor car accident yesterday - no injuries to anyone involved, but the rear of his car is a mess. So he spent this morning dealing with claim forms, body shop estimates, reports, and other paperwork. I sent back a note empathizing with the hassle and saying I was glad he wasn't hurt. I wrote something like "Car parts are easier to replace than people parts, and nothing could ever replace a Dad."

This gave me the shove I needed to write him this letter:

This reminds me. Every so often I hear stories that curdle my blood, stories from survivors of various kinds of abuse in childhood. Chillingly often, it's a father - the man who should be protecting and caring for his child - who's the main offender. But it's not only the pain of the abuse that tugs at my heart; it's the pain I hear when these now-adults say "I don't talk to my dad any more." The pain of never having had the kind of paternal love I just plain take for
granted. The loneliness of knowing they never will have that kind of love from their dads.

I tell these people I wish I could share MY Dad with them.

I just thought you'd like to know.

I'm not the world's best writer, but I think this one gets the point across. I hope he is as touched when reading it as I was when I wrote it.

Comments

[hopeforyou.livejournal.com]

Why can't we share your dad? I think we should have an honourary fondue party with him as the guest of honor. Then we'll all get to meet him and see why your relationship is what it is.

Well, I think having an honourary fondue party for its own sake is good, too...