Long term readers (HI!) may have noticed I’ve done several Mother’s Day posts over the years, but nothing on Father’s Day. That’s because up until two years ago my dad and I weren’t really on speaking terms, so much so that I wasn’t sure if he’d come to the wedding. But he did, and during our time together we were able to talk about things and give our relationship a second chance. It pains me to think that maybe he was waiting for me to inviting him back into my life, because it took me having a wedding to phone, but I try not to beat myself up for lost time. I don’t think either of us was ready, but we are now and that’s what counts.
I don’t want to talk about the painful past today. I want to talk about how great it’s been the last two years. I want to recall the unexpected and happy tidbits we’ve had. Like how he played Guild Wars 2 with Tom and me all Beta weekend. How he spent four hours on the phone describing in detail his fantasy world and story lines for novels he wants to write. How we talk about our favorite TV shows over Facetime. And of course that I am happy I have him in my life again. I want to take a moment today to be grateful for it by sharing a happy memory from my childhood.
Dad, if somehow you are reading this, I’m sorry for posting a picture of you shirtless on the internet, but you just look so darn happy that I’m standing up for the first time- I just couldn’t resist.
When I think of the great surprises of my childhood, a few choice moments come to mind, but today I’ll be sharing with you the only one I happen to have photographs for at the moment.
I was a huge Batman fan. (No, seriously. It was not cute. It might even be borderline embarrassing.) I thought Batman was real, just like Santa Claus, and my dad would take us driving at night and point out a spotlight in the sky in a neighboring city and tell me it was for Batman. I watched Batman Returns about a hundred times on laser disc and hoped one day that I could meet Batman in real life. I even wrote him an invitation to my birthday party one year. I told my dad about it and asked him if he could use his government work-related contacts to somehow send out the invitation. He told me he’d take care of it, and wouldn’t you know it, Batman came to my birthday party. Not the standard clown or magician, which were really popular at the time, no- I had the goddamn Batman.
In the end I remember telling my dad that I knew he wasn’t the real Batman because he didn’t have any gadgets on his belt and that the real Batman was probably out saving people, or stuck as Bruce Wayne. But I was really happy that he sent someone in his stead just to show up at my party for me and my guests. (You can imagine that in Hermione’s voice circa Philospher’s Stone- because that’s probably how I sounded. Minus the accent. But accents are cool and I was a weird kid, so maybe it was my accent phase.)
PS: I invited MacGuyver to my birthday parties for years but sadly I don’t think I had the right address.
8 Comments
Roxanne
26 Jun 2012 at 4:21 pmThis post is so touching and sweet. And the Batman thing is so freakin’ adorable!
Sara
27 Jun 2012 at 7:51 amThanks so much, Roxanne! I’m glad you liked it.
Alyssa
21 Jun 2012 at 6:23 pmI love that first photo so much! I love how excited you both are the fact that your dad is looking at the camera (I assume held by your mom), while you’re looking at him in pure joy and pride.
Sarah
21 Jun 2012 at 4:36 pmThis story, especially the Batman elements of it, but really just the entire thing, is absolutely wonderful. I’m glad you shared it with us and I’m even gladder that you and your dad have reconnected and are trying to repair your relationship. That’s awesome.
jennfier
19 Jun 2012 at 6:47 amI just ran across your blog, or hair thing I really don’t know what this is that you post, found via pinterest, but I just clicked on your name by chance you had more up do photos and your most recent blog is for Father’s Day. Reason for me commenting, I just recently became in contact with my father three weeks ago for the first time in three years, and it is I will say that it has made me feel a tad more “whole”.. when i don’t think about the B.S. that happened. Or reasons as to why we stopped talking. I’m sorry i was just touched by your post, and the story behind, it made me tear up.
Record timing for tears in the morning.. (unless it was just a really late night with girl friends and too much booze and lack of sleep but I do’nt think it counts unless you’ve fallen asleep and woke up again) So needless to say, I think I needed to read your post.. just ironic.
P.s. your hair styles are extremely cute, chic and simple.. going to try one right now for work.. because I’m lazy and i should look presentable to the world. Thanks!
Genevieve Morrison
17 Jun 2012 at 1:56 pmThis is such a sweet post and I love seeing old photos.
Bianca
17 Jun 2012 at 12:19 pmI love that you had a Batman obsession and thought he was real – that’s so adorable. I was a really sceptical child and when I was told about the tooth fairy/Easter bunny/Santa Claus I was really unconvinced from the start (maybe my parents were just really bad liars).
It’s really good that you were able to reconcile somewhat with your dad and be in each other’s lives in a positive way. My dad died when I was a kid, but I don’t have a single bad memory to recount, he was full of surprises and was the fun maker.
Again, really enjoyed this post, thanks for sharing it.
Charlotta, Afternoon Apparel
17 Jun 2012 at 11:12 amSuch a wonderful post and a cute story! I was always into this kind of stuff as a child, too! Never really cared about barbie or any other dolls either. Anything animal was cool though, so I loved my My Little Ponies.