Without the guy on the right, I would have never been a father
June 18, 2016
I've smiled a lot lately as I walk around our house. It's the pictures of our kids and our grandkids that does it. The only room in our house without their pictures is the bathroom.
They all make me smile and they heat up my heart to the point of having a big glow. I love being a father. There's never been anything better than this parenthood journey I've taken with my wife Gladys almost 35 years ago. My daughter and my son have added a layer of love to my life that I had never experienced until we had them. And that keeps on growing with a son-in-law and daughter-in-law and five grandchildren.
As the hands of our clock move into Father's Day tomorrow, I started thinking about my own father. I was walking through the hallway of our upstairs and spotted the above picture. It's of my mom and dad on their wedding day. I only knew my mom. She raised me and she loved me unconditionally. My feelings towards my dad are complicated and have been shaped by his actions when I was a toddler. I never really felt kindly towards him.
Then going by their picture this morning, the realization hit me. Without him, I wouldn't have my great, one-of-a-kind wife, my kids, their spouses and my three grandsons and two granddaughters. I would not exist. I'm glad that I do.
Perhaps, I need to say Happy Father's Day to him and to say thank-you. I'm happy and I hope he had a chance to experience to same happiness of a wife, children and family.