Thanks for the Paen for a difficult and loving father. He got certain things right, and cared in his way. Beyond that you've said about all I could say.
How wonderful that you have all those notes from your father. I have only one letter and it wasn't even to me, but about me to someone else...he was bragging about my writing (shy grin). You were celebrated yesterday at Blazing Laptops when the lucky top fundraiser chose your generous gift as her prize. I'm sure you'll be hearing from her. Enjoy the late sunsets.
Not this year. One of Writers, Ink new board members and a delightful young woman named Sharon and I don't know her last name. I've been top several years in a row--won a complete ms review by you twice, one I'm holding for when I get the next book done. (Don't keep checking your in-box; it's gonna be awhile) xooxox
Glad to know that my Dad could do some dad action for you, too! Miss him so much more when I'm back around his place, Santa Barbara. He was such a character and enough dad for several folks. Miss you, too. Sweet sailing, and may the current be with you asap!
Acceptance - that's such a big one. Great you could get to that point, and with a parent. Really good you had such an active communication over his last years and that you saved them and are thinking about doing something with them. This was a sweet post.
Beautiful post, Jenny! I'm always glad to read essays about this subject, though I haven't been brave enough to share mine yet. Appreciate your candor and positive attitude. Hope everything is going well, the boat looks heavenly!
All is well indeed. A bit more rain and wind than expected, but as someone recently told me, "Summer starts in July'! We shall see. We are being serenaded from the beach by First Nations people on a preserve. They even did a ceremonial canoeing. Took some pics but I think I should not share them. Feels wrong.
Thanks Jenny for sharing such heartfelt reflections on your turbulent life with (and without) Dad-Dude. My dad was so not-dude, couldn't be more different. Straight as a poker, old timey Father Knows Best. What mine had in common with yours was the OCD editing gene which, alas, he passed down to me. He didn't just read the paper every night, he proofread it and went nuts when he found errors. Oh, and thanks for your very kind words about my novel! 🤞
I'm glad you and your dad shared that email correspondence. Sounds as if it brought connection and peace after a long time of neither. I admired your awareness when you wrote, "Once I saw that his life went on much the same, with or without me, I realized that the only person who was losing out, due to my avoidance of him, was me. I could have a father, or choose not to—what I could not choose was a different father." Nicely said. Navigating tough parental relationships can be tricky. I'm glad you discovered a way to do that with your not-so-easy dad.
Great perspectives and insights about fathers and estrangement, Jenny. Thanks for sharing. My controlling father and I clashed frequently throughout his life over major and minor issues. He never appreciated my accomplishments, which caused us to drift further apart. The first open break was 1960, when I was a fan of JFK. That infuriated my die-hard Republican father. He disparaged my work in the Carter administration and screamed at me by phone when I went to Nevada in 2008 to help Obama. We never reconciled.
Thanks for the Paen for a difficult and loving father. He got certain things right, and cared in his way. Beyond that you've said about all I could say.
You could probably say it better though, my talented brother.
How wonderful that you have all those notes from your father. I have only one letter and it wasn't even to me, but about me to someone else...he was bragging about my writing (shy grin). You were celebrated yesterday at Blazing Laptops when the lucky top fundraiser chose your generous gift as her prize. I'm sure you'll be hearing from her. Enjoy the late sunsets.
I'm so thrilled about that donation going to the top fundraiser. And it wasn't you?!
Not this year. One of Writers, Ink new board members and a delightful young woman named Sharon and I don't know her last name. I've been top several years in a row--won a complete ms review by you twice, one I'm holding for when I get the next book done. (Don't keep checking your in-box; it's gonna be awhile) xooxox
I love knowing that I'll be reading your new book one day. And Sharon's too.
Glad to know that my Dad could do some dad action for you, too! Miss him so much more when I'm back around his place, Santa Barbara. He was such a character and enough dad for several folks. Miss you, too. Sweet sailing, and may the current be with you asap!
We had a lovely sail today!
Acceptance - that's such a big one. Great you could get to that point, and with a parent. Really good you had such an active communication over his last years and that you saved them and are thinking about doing something with them. This was a sweet post.
Gracias amiga! We all have stories...
Beautiful post, Jenny! I'm always glad to read essays about this subject, though I haven't been brave enough to share mine yet. Appreciate your candor and positive attitude. Hope everything is going well, the boat looks heavenly!
All is well indeed. A bit more rain and wind than expected, but as someone recently told me, "Summer starts in July'! We shall see. We are being serenaded from the beach by First Nations people on a preserve. They even did a ceremonial canoeing. Took some pics but I think I should not share them. Feels wrong.
Thanks Jenny for sharing such heartfelt reflections on your turbulent life with (and without) Dad-Dude. My dad was so not-dude, couldn't be more different. Straight as a poker, old timey Father Knows Best. What mine had in common with yours was the OCD editing gene which, alas, he passed down to me. He didn't just read the paper every night, he proofread it and went nuts when he found errors. Oh, and thanks for your very kind words about my novel! 🤞
As many of my clients can tell you, I don't blow smoke about a manuscript. I calls them as I sees them!
I'm glad you and your dad shared that email correspondence. Sounds as if it brought connection and peace after a long time of neither. I admired your awareness when you wrote, "Once I saw that his life went on much the same, with or without me, I realized that the only person who was losing out, due to my avoidance of him, was me. I could have a father, or choose not to—what I could not choose was a different father." Nicely said. Navigating tough parental relationships can be tricky. I'm glad you discovered a way to do that with your not-so-easy dad.
Thanks, Len. I wrote that line and thought, yes, that sums it up. We so often think the world revolves around us, especially at age 20 and 21.
Amen.
Great perspectives and insights about fathers and estrangement, Jenny. Thanks for sharing. My controlling father and I clashed frequently throughout his life over major and minor issues. He never appreciated my accomplishments, which caused us to drift further apart. The first open break was 1960, when I was a fan of JFK. That infuriated my die-hard Republican father. He disparaged my work in the Carter administration and screamed at me by phone when I went to Nevada in 2008 to help Obama. We never reconciled.
Thanks for the comment Mikel. Father's and sons...so tricky. I'm glad my brothers had each other. Still do.
Currently the currents are with us. Love you prima!