it happened again today. the urge to say something that sounds exactly like my dad. i was making oliver lunch and i could hear myself ask him in my head "so oliver... what do you think?" i didn't say it aloud... he was playing with his cars and absorbed in his car world. and besides, it probably would have just induced the eye-rolling that the same question from my dad always got out of me as a kid.
"so robin, what do you think?"
(eye roll) "about what, daaaaad?"
"oh i don't know? life?"
"oh daaaaad..." (another eye roll)
this is not the first time i have witnessed myself transforming into my dad in a small way. every time i close my eyes and conduct music with my fork while eating (air conducting, my dad is known for it), or anytime i say "poop and tinkle" (my dad's two most favorite words IN THE WORLD), or anytime i blurt out the year a song was released ("1993! i was a freshman!"), i am channeling my dad. these are all things that at some point drove me crazy, but now i do them freely.
my dad has had a tough year health-wise. it started with a heart attack in may, followed by some not-fun complications and symptoms, and most recent, a prostate cancer diagnosis. (but he's okay! he's gonna be fine!) but still. cancer. radiation. these are words i never want to associate with anyone i love.
so, next time i find "so ollie, what do you think?" at the tip of my tongue, i'm going to say it proudly. i'm going to wave that papa dave flag boldly. even when the eyes start rolling and the "ohhhh moms" are inescapable i will continue the legacy and react by saying, "poop and tinkle", just like my dad.
and that's a good thing to be.
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12 comments:
This is so beautifully written! And that is a darling photo. I loved the stories.
So sweet! Your dad is a great guy and your post reminds me of my "eye-rolling" days with my dad.
So sweet Robin.
Love this post.
I was so lucky to marry this great guy who turned out to be the best dad ever. Together we had the best daughter ever. Out of all our daughters, you really are our favorite.
SO...Robin.....What do you think? Thanks Princess for making my morning. I can't believe I ever had that much hair at one time!!!!! I love you
I read this aloud to my husband. It's beautiful.
i like coming here. i bet i would like papa dave too. a lot.
love this!!! me and my dad are not super close. neither are me and my mom...but this makes me hope that my kids feel differently about me. thanks for sharing.
sweet post. i love dad-isms. and also you were a pretty adorable little blondie!
all choked up over here robin. such a beautiful post. i think im going to go call my dad...
tears
i love your dad!! he gave me the best job i ever had. i was supposed to do computer/number stuff (what did i do?), but the best parts were picking up craig from school, washing the CRV, checking out your mom's latest handiwork, running around town with your family's credit card # memorized in my head... i remember him going into that closet off his office and coming out with another sinatra CD or tony bennet. i miss that. your dad has great taste in music.
i didn't know about the cancer. i'm so sorry! even when everything is more or less "all better", it's a horrible reminder that our loved ones are mortal.
I love this! And I love your dad! And I think I will start saying "Poop" and "tinkle" because I already say "Scout, what do you think?"
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