I love this story and read parts to my husband. We both laughed. Sort of. We were also sad, for you, for your brother and for my husband and our friends who had similar fathers, men who tried to crush their downy spirits.
I guess I'm amazed that even bad parents stay embedded in a child's heart -- all the way until that child takes a last breath. When I was younger I didn't know that. But having listened to my in-laws and cousins, siblings and friends, and having read stories such as yours... I am (oddly) shocked to discover that parents have such lasting impact. Whether bio or otherwise, loving or malicious, nurturing or brutal, they can pierce a child's heart forever.
Thanks, Diane. He definitely caused some damage, especially to a couple of my sibs, but I stopped interacting with him at as a fairly young man (on the advice of a great therapist) and I've been relatively okay and happy. Haven't and don't really think about him much. And what's that saying? What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Some truth to that.
Hilarious bits--"Always", the bagpipes, the dumb wife. I especially like that you leave the reader to guess (other than the lashes) why you so disliked him.
I haven't laughed so much for weeks! (And I love bagpipes!) Thanks for sharing the story about your father. We are all very glad he introduced you to birding -a redeeming quality, to be sure!
Barbara, thank you for your quilts. I've seen a few in person at the NW gallery. Always a pleasure to behold.
Hi Kerry,
I love this story and read parts to my husband. We both laughed. Sort of. We were also sad, for you, for your brother and for my husband and our friends who had similar fathers, men who tried to crush their downy spirits.
I guess I'm amazed that even bad parents stay embedded in a child's heart -- all the way until that child takes a last breath. When I was younger I didn't know that. But having listened to my in-laws and cousins, siblings and friends, and having read stories such as yours... I am (oddly) shocked to discover that parents have such lasting impact. Whether bio or otherwise, loving or malicious, nurturing or brutal, they can pierce a child's heart forever.
Thanks, Diane. He definitely caused some damage, especially to a couple of my sibs, but I stopped interacting with him at as a fairly young man (on the advice of a great therapist) and I've been relatively okay and happy. Haven't and don't really think about him much. And what's that saying? What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Some truth to that.
Agreed. They do stick with you, good and/or bad. Like it or not, they are part of who we become, either as a good example or a horrible warning.
Amazing story!
OMG. Father's Day. Perfection. Kerry what a gifted writer you are.
Hilarious bits--"Always", the bagpipes, the dumb wife. I especially like that you leave the reader to guess (other than the lashes) why you so disliked him.
Thanks, Kate. He was a sociopath. I have terrible stories I'll never write.
I haven't laughed so much for weeks! (And I love bagpipes!) Thanks for sharing the story about your father. We are all very glad he introduced you to birding -a redeeming quality, to be sure!
Barbara, thank you for your quilts. I've seen a few in person at the NW gallery. Always a pleasure to behold.
PS The title says it all -- very creepy.