It's interesting because when I look back on my life, we were alway butting heads. I literally emerged from the womb being boy crazy and destined to line my walls with pictures of N*SYNC and Backstreet Boys, so he naturally had reason to worry about me.
When I was sixteen years old my parents separated and I chose to live with my mother. I did this because I felt as though my father would never understand the desires of my teenage girl heart, and my mother had BEEN where I had was and had FELT the way I felt, so therefore me living with him was out of the question. So I lived with my mother and my brother and sister lived with my dad. He never said this to me, but I think my decision hurt his feelings slightly, and I think deep down I always knew that. I lived with my mom for a while and put those feelings behind me. We had some great times together and I helped her through a very difficult time in her life. I was proud to be there with her, and I've never regretted my decision to live with her.
After a while I finally got my life together and found myself head-over-heels for a wonderful man, and we married. We also lived in Saint George, Utah, which I believed was the bane of my very existence. How was I supposed to live in a city that shut down at 9pm? What if I needed a midnight taco? Or desperately needed Pepto Bismol at 3am because I had eaten aforementioned midnight taco? No, this was not going to work. So after many pleadings with my husband, and a gracious offer from my dad to let us live in his basement apartment for wickedly cheap, we set off to go back to my home.
It was there that I then began Esthetician school and Ander started school at Utah Valley State College, now known as Utah Valley University. I worked a few nights a week at PF Chang's and Ander worked almost every night at Outback.
I got very lonely.
I spent time with my mom, who I adore and would spend the rest of my life with if I could, and my brother and sister on occasions, but most of the time I was alone in that basement. I remember one evening I was watching television and heard my dad walking around upstairs and I decided to go and spend time with him. Thus began a tradition that lasted as long as we lived with my father. We would play video games, watch TV, chat, or sometimes we did our own things but did them in each other's company.
My dad also left for school at the same time I did, so he met me outside every morning and told me how much he loved me, wished me a good day, and always said, "Be good, be strong, be smart!" This happened almost every morning.
When Ander and I decided to leave Utah for good and come here to Austin I realized my time with my family was dwindling quickly and I needed to say the things that needed to be said, and do the things that needed to be done. So I sat down with my dad and told him how much the last year had meant to me, being able to spend time with him. "It's almost as if I made up for the time we lost when I wasn't living with you," I said, "I feel caught up now, and that's a really great feeling. I got a rare opportunity, I believe, to be a big part of your life again." My dad told me he loved me and thanked me for spending time with him. Eventually we both moved to different locations. I, to blistering hot Texas with a splash of giant bugs, him to a darling house with his sweetheart wife Colleen. I think he got the better deal, to be honest, but that's okay. Austin suits us just fine.
I'm so thankful for the time my dad and I had to just be father and daughter, and grow closer every day.
My dad is messy, and unorganized. He makes fun of everyone and plays Halo... but he also is a strong, worthy priesthood holder, has the ability to make anyone laugh, and loves his wife and family dearly. He can imitate any accent, he always has wise words of advice to offer, and he never raises his voice. This Father's Day I am proud to call him my dad and I'm filled with love and admiration for him. Tonight we'll chat about how much fun he had today with the trafillion grand-babies of Colleen's and all the food that was eaten and the games that were played, but I hope he knows how much I truly appreciate him and all he's done for me. Thanks Dad, happy Father's Day.
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