visit my dad

My dad only lives an hour away, but I find so hard to make it down sometimes. I also what to leave as soon as I get there. I never like to stay the night. I feel like my dad and I have grown distant ever since I moved out. Now he’s a foster parent and I feel like he has a whole new life, that I’m really not apart of. Since I’ve moved out my Dad has adopted a little boy, and I wasn’t even invited to the cermony where they make that legal. I don’t get why I have to make him apart of my life when they never made me included in the first place. It’s like two seperate families in one. I guess going home never really feels like home any more. I wish things didn’t have to feel so uncomfortable. I wish we could be close like we use to be.

In the two week time period between when my Dad got sick and his death, I drove to visit him nearly every day before work. I’m so thankful we had this time to spend together and say what we needed to say.

I think everyone should visit their parents every year if they can. No matter what. Dead or Alive(haha)(but seriously). I haven’t seen my dad since… I think 2004. So it’s been 4 years.
I’ve grown so much since then, and I want us to meet, talk, and have some fun together. He’s a really great guy. He’s fit, a poet, a security guard, quiet, calm, and sentimental. He’s just a really good dad.
He always gives my brother and I advice for every little thing. And we take it with gratitude. He has more kids now and I really want to see them too. As well as my loving step-mom. They’re all about family over there. And I love that. I want to be surrounded by all my family.

my dad lives in virginia and i havent seen him since april

I was able to go visit him twice, once in the Spring and once in the Fall. His health was not good and he passed away 10 days after my last visit, though I was able to be at his side he was in a coma.

It has been 3 months and I am still grieving, I wish I had visited more often, so if this is on anyone else’s list please put it at the top of your list. It is not so much to avoid guilt, it is because once that person is gone from this world, they take with them their smiles and hugs and you need to get your fill before it is too late.

I hadn’t seen my dad in 7 years. It was so nice to get reaquainted with him and we both vowed to not let it go nearly that long ever again!

Well, unfortunately my self absorbed lifestyle, guilt, busy schedule, etc. kept me from visiting Dad until last week. The flight was only $300, I stayed with relatives, the costs were not that high. But he has brain and lung cancer and it took that diagnosis to make me prioritize him. I feel so sad. Also, the cancer seems to have changed him. He is not who he used to be – more sharp tempered and gruff, bitter, mean. I know that pain may be an influence, I know that this part of his life is his to do with as he wishes, I do not want to chastise him or make him even more sad or mad, but I just wish he would chill out a little bit. Enjoy the life he has left.

Spent a few days at my dad’s in Calif. I got there the same day he was released from a month’s stay in the hospital after having a quadruple bypass. It has definitely taken a toll on him, but he is doing great. Hard to see your parents age, and go through health trials. I was touched when he said he felt he’d been blessed not just lucky for having the surgery instead of having a heart attack.

so i visited my dad and got shit done. i left my photo album there for him to look at, ordered a laptop, got the check/thank you letter done, and talked about colleges (but didn’t actually make any progress).

things to do with dad:

1. show my photo album
2. write a thank-you letter
3. cash a check
4. fix my laptop
5. begin my application for hkust

oh, i had better also pick up my official transcripts tomorrow, i’m almost a week late!