My mother poisoned the relationship all my siblings had with our father. I’ll skip that because, her BS is not what this post is about. I’m here to share a good Christmas story.
So for my entire life my father never once asked for anything from us for any birthday, holiday, anything. And as I grew up it killed me. He kept everything quiet. Kept everything internal. But this year for the first time he slipped to my sister. He wanted a specific lever action hunting rifle. I was ecstatic. I could FINALLY buy him a decent gift. Not the s~~~ty socks and assorted crap my mother gave him year after year.
So we got him the rifle and ran into an issue. Another family member who has a lot of emotional problems was going to show up for Christmas. He’s got a lot of combat related issues on his shoulders. Doesn’t mind guns but has a real ego competition & pride mentality that have left him poor. So I tell my sister, buy him a Red Ryder BB Gun for that part, and give him the real gift later. I send her the money and she also buys a DVD of A Christmas Story to go along with it. Classic!
So anyway, the day comes around to exchange gifts. My sister sends me a photo of dad opening his Red Ryder BB Gun. The man is in his 70’s. And he looks like a little kid with this huge grin on his face holding the BB gun above his head triumphantly. My sister said he even teared up for a few moments.
He calls me up later to thank me. And said he had wanted a Red Ryder BB Gun since he was 8 years old. I had never heard this before. Never seen this side of my dad. I just got to play Santa Clause to my father’s 8 years old inner boy. I think he liked that BB Gun even more than the real top of the line hunting rifle he asked for.
These are the experiences my mother stole from me by her constant unceasing maligning of my father. Thanks mom.
A few weeks later I had to move some work related equipment from one city to another. My dad offered to come and spend some time with me. And he returned the Christmas favor without knowing he did. My dad will never eat at a good restaurant being a child of the Great Depression. Ive spent decades trying to buy him just one extraordinary meal. Well this time I finally got him to join me at a famous steakhouse for a 8oz Mishima Filet, a bottle of Opus One and some amazing side dishes, appetizers, and deserts. He kept trying to get out of it. But finally gave in. Even our waitress was attentive (but only after she realized what I was ordering didn’t reflect way I was dressed. The sommelier kept having personal conversations with us. LOL) And the best part was dad was clueless to the price and was having a grand time. He tried to pick up the check and I wouldn’t let him. Before we left he insisted on at least seeing the check. $700+. Thought he was going to have a heart attack right there. LOL I finally got to honor my father with an excellent dinner at a great restaurant.
We had some of the best talks this Christmas. I learned things about the old man I never knew. And I learned more about how mom poisoned everything.
This was the best Christmas I’ve had in decades!
Belated Merry Christmas Gents!
Shimsh 2 years ago.
