Friday, July 18, 2008

Friday Fotos & a letter for my dad



This is me with my dad. I was 2 years old.



Dad,
You are very ill right now. You are battling skin cancer, prostate issues, asbestos in lungs, you smoke, you have lost a lot of weight (I weigh more than you and you are a foot taller), not to mention the agent orange damage to your leg. Whenever this picture was taken, things were different. You were different. We were different. We still played together. We still spoke. It was before the alcohol took over you.

I feel like I am lucky to have pictures and memories of better times. T & T were not as lucky. You left when they were both young. They try to reach out and have a relationship now and there is nothing there for them. We don't speak like we used to. It saddens me how our relationship has detoriated. It saddens me to think that you have never seen your youngest grandkids in person. The last time you saw the oldest two was 10 years ago. Why? Is the past that painful for you too? Is it better just to live with old memories instead of making new ones?

Now that your sick, I have struggled with taking the kids home to see you. Is it fair to let me meet you and only have a memory of a sick man? Or is it better to shield them? I am still undecided as to what to do. Hopefully, I have some time to decide. I love you dad!

For Friday Fotos please visit Candid Carrie.

7 comments:

Judy Schwartz Haley | CoffeeJitters.Net said...

thank you for sharing this letter and photo with us. the photo is beautiful and the letter is heartbreaking.

some of my most precious memories in my life have been with people gravely ill and within the months before their deaths.

Michelle said...

Judy,
Thank you for your kind words.

Jennifer said...

Aw, I'm so sorry about your dad--I hope everything works out. It's a beautiful picture!

JWilson said...

I came over thru Candid Carries and I just want to say Thank you for sharing this.

I have a similar picture with my father when I was about that age. My father died from skin cancer at three years after my picture was taken (I was 5). His death taught me a few things but the biggest one is to say goodbye whenever possible so even if you choose to not let your kids met him I would advise you to say goodbye before it's to late.

I know I'm just a stranger but I want you to know I will pray for you and your family.

Anonymous said...

I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH, MOM

Anonymous said...

blessings to your family.

Anonymous said...

Why are relationships so messy sometimes?? Thanks for sharing such a treasured photo.