Our Life & Times

Today is my dad's birthday, he is 61. When I was little I was definitely a daddy's girl. My daddy could do no wrong! My mom tells me stories of when I was a baby and when I would wake up in the night my dad wouldn't let my mom get me, he wanted to do it. I remember whenever I wanted something my daddy would make sure I got what I wanted. There was a time when those Barbie doll heads were popular that you put make up on the face and fixed the hair. Does anyone remember what I am talking about? My sister had one, she is about 7 years older than me, and Sharon and her friends would all play with their Barbie heads and I wanted one too. Finally, my daddy came home from work one day with one for me!! It was all mine!! But things happen as they tend to do, and my parents were divorced when I was about 6 years old. My mom basically became both parents to me, because my dad used the divorce as an excuse to drink. Over the years our relationship diminshed. Now that I am an adult, our relationship is down to birthday and Christmas cards. We don't even talk on the phone. The last time I saw my dad who lives in PA was in 2002 when my grandpa Wayne passed away. My dad promised me he would help my Aunt Betsy take care of my grandma, but he never did. Alcoholism destroys lives and destroys families. It is an ugly disease. Anyway, I guess this wasn't too much of a "Happy Birthday Tribute" to my dad, but it is reality. I wish God would touch my dad's heart and release him from the chains that bind him. That would be the best birthday gift he could ever get!