Monday, October 22, 2012

A Rite of Passage

One of my greatest memories of my childhood was looking out our big bay window in our family room. I would sit on the couch and look out that window everyday. Our family would all sit on that couch and open up Christmas presents each year. I have a lot of memories there. The anniversary of my dad's death always brings up unexpected emotion. It's one thing to think about him but it's another to know that the anniversary of the day when you said your last good bye is quickly approaching. 

I find myself trying to occupy my mind so it doesn't go there. This weekend I was taken back to when I was sitting on that couch doubled over laughing at my dad. In school my sister and I had some really good girlfriends and some really good (but pranksters) guy friends. If you knew my dad, you pretty much loved him. He didn't know a stranger. The first time we got toilet papered my dad chased the guys down the street in his boxers. Seriously, who does this? I remember going to school and they guys thought it was the best thing ever. My dad would joke with them all the time and tell them he would get them. So, of course, they would do it again. He chased them again {yep, in his boxers}. 

Which brings me to this weekend. I decided to go to bed really early {yes, I was acting like I was 90 years old} I was in mid dream, drooling and all when I hear "get up, quick... get up." Well, let me stop just to say I thought we were being robbed or something terrible had happened. I am blind as a bat so I ran to the bathroom to put in my contacts. I ran downstairs and saw my husband running out of the house and jumping into his car. He goes on a chase. I realize someone had snuck up and smashed our pumpkin. {Side note: Seriously, is it really that fun?} I was SO mad because it was Brady's pumpkin he took to school earlier in the week. He wrote a story about every detail of that pumpkin and there it was, smashed in the road. I am cheering Chris on to catch the 'punks' who did this. As mad as I was I immediately couldn't stop laughing. I felt like a kid again when my dad went chasing the HS boys. I mean lets get real, if you catch them what are you going to do? Plus, the fact that it was my husband {who is the nicest guy EVER} going after the 'punks' makes me laugh even harder. 

That night I talked to my sister and we laughed about old memories of my dad. He would have been so proud to see Chris go after the boys. He would have camped out and hid in the bushes with my sister and I just to see if they would come back.
 I miss him. 

I told Chris that I'm pretty sure this is a rite of passage for every dad. He told me stories of his dad doing the same thing. We laughed a lot that night. I can't wait to hear the stories from my boys of the first time they go chasing after the 'punks'


8 comments:

  1. Love this memory you have of your dad...thanks for sharing, Maria

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    1. Thanks Davina! By the way, I LOVE your signs. I am so happy for you!

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  2. That story of your dad is precious and I am glad you got a laugh out of the one with your husband. I am sitting here stewing over those punks smashing your boys pumpkin :( I am guessing he never caught up with them? That would be awesome if he did.

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    1. The funny thing was he thought he caught them... it ended up not being them. The kids he thought it was were so scared. They swore up and down it wasn't them. I felt bad for them but we got a good laugh out of it.

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  3. Dearest Maria,
    I know all-too-well the continuum of emotions that you're going through. I recently acknowledged the 15 anniversary of my mother's death. We want so badly to remember the good times, yet we become flooded with emotions of "the day." As a therapist, I can tell you "that's normal." But as a motherless daughter, I say "It sucks. It's not fair." Your dad lives on through the life YOU live. Keeping his stories, memories, and spirit alive...saying YES to life, your amazing spirit. I know he was laughing from Heaven at your husband. Sending you prayers of comfort.

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    1. Brenda you always say the BEST things to me. This is why I am sure you are such a great therapist. Thankful for you! xoxo

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