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The Truth About Dad
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The Truth About Dad |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States 
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The Truth About Dad By Larry Chadwick It had all the appearances of a Rockwell scene. Mom was knitting. Dad was reading the paper. My little brother was playing with his Tonka toys on the rug and my middle brother was reading the funnies. I was the flaw in the print. Sitting on the couch with dad my thoughts were boiling. “I hate this hell hole!” I blurted intentionally destroying the moment. Gushing the emotions I had stifled beyond my ability to manage or express. At fifteen I had never even heard slang from my father’s mouth. And I had only heard my mother damn the pie she burned in the oven. So while I was not the drama king of the family I knew how to get center stage. But I found a truth that night I had not sought. Instantly I felt the sting from the back of his hand as he made natural assumptions. Simultaneously he found my sobs and tears while I found his frail humanity. It was the beginning of a life time of vulnerabilities shared. Imbedded forever as a painful memory cherished for its candor. It was never about home. Home was my haven. And for the first time my dad searched my heart for all it possessed. Driven to fix all that was wrong and comfort what he could not. And that night I found a reason to want to be an adult. June 15, 2003 If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again. |
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| © Copyright 2003 Larry Chadwick - All Rights Reserved | |||
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1slick_lady Member Ascendant
since 2000-12-22
Posts 6088standing on a shadow's lace |
larry...isn't it funny how in life we learn the deepest lessons by making our own mistakes...h |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
Helen, Thanks and in ways we rarely forget...  If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again. |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Mother's cardinal rule was to never ever administer a slap above the shoulders. Well, about that same age, I must have quipped something terrible, because she, too, administered one heck of a hand to my cheek. What was said, I could never remember. All I have ever remembered was coming back to apologize and seeing HER in tears! And believe me, that hurt more. It did, indeed, open a new chapter for the both of us.  |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
It was equally out of character in our home and had a significant impact on us both as well. Life is certainly full of surprises. If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again. |
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skyshine
since 2002-02-07
Posts 3058Beneath the northern stars |
The worst mistake can lead to the best things.  ~Elizabeth Dreams last for so long, even after you're gone... |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
skyshine, Ain't that the truth!  If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again. |
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fractal007 Senior Member
since 2000-06-01
Posts 1958 |
This is quite painful. I think I'll add it to my library. 2+2=5 for sufficiently large values of 2 |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
fractal007, Thank you. I am honored... If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again. |
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