The Apple really doesn’t fall far from the tree, now does it? Sometimes that can be tricky, good, scarey or even dreadful. Presently I can only hope it is true. There is this tendency to look at your parents and roll your eyes. You watch with embarrassment as they enjoy themselves in the way “they” know how. You wish you were somewhere else, maybe crawl under a rock or something. You could have lived a lifetime without hearing what was just said, never for a moment understanding what they were thinking. All the while, begging that you did NOT get that gene. Guess what, Parents are people too. When you become that parent, you begin to understand some things, but not all things. The gene pool is a scary place to be standing and at times you can feel like you are drowning.
But let’s see… My Daddy is a kind and gentle man. He would give you the shirt off of his back. I am quite sure he has never met a stranger. He loves family with all his heart. He tells them every time he sees them, “You know I love you“. He pays attention to the lives of the ones he loves, never interfering. There is no, “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up”… He fell plenty, and he always got up. He would push forward, put it behind him and start again. (Great example to everyone around him). I only personally saw him angry, once. I was 5 years old so this is the way I remembered it. I got in his MG, put it in neutral and rolled down the driveway into the street. I got a spanking. (It didn’t hurt, but don’t tell him). I am assuming my brother saw him angry far more times than I did. I don’t know a soul that has met him and didn’t like him, and that must be important to him. He loved to laugh. (Not that joke telling was a gift, because it wasn’t. Now that’s funny, because my kids now tell me, “Mom, you crack myself up don’t you” and I do)
He played basketball growing up. He loved tools and building things. He was quite adventurous. He owned a motor cycle for years. A street bike that he loved and proceeded to almost kill himself on. He acquired his pilot’s license and loved flying, just another of his many passions. He had dark skin and a golden tan because he loved the sun. He love to go deep sea fishing. He loved to dive and spear fish. That all ended abruptly, when he had a close encounter with “Jaws”. He was spearing and “Jaws” thankfully decided to go for the grouper he had just speared and not my Dad. He loved being in and near the water so much that he went a vacation to Key West ended up in Miami and didn’t return for 7 years.
Hummmmm, wait, let me process some of this. Truly, without knowledge of some of those traits… I chose dirt bikes instead of street bikes. I played high school and college basketball. I actually own a rather large steel tool chest full of tools. (which I requested for my 40th birthday) I explored creeks and ditches in the neighborhood, hunting crawfish. I love the sun, especially the sunrise and sunset. I bought an MG at 19, mainly because my Mom told me I couldn’t. I have this major desire to be in, on or near the water. I have a love for fishing and experiencing new adventures. Seriously… I have never met a stranger. I hate it when someone doesn’t like me and I tend like everyone even when I shouldn’t. Need I go on? I am proud of being the Apple from that tree. Consider me a wanna be.
Ok, here’s the lesson. I think. So about the age you start becoming selfish and look at your parents with detest, embarrassment, wonder, blame, amazement, whatever …. You might want to consider trying to find out who they really are. What was there childhood like? What about high school, dating, and lost loves? What are their passions? What would they do, if they could do anything in the world? Would they do anything different? Where would they visit if they could? Who are their idols? You know, the stuff you think about all the time for yourself. You tend to think they are on this world for only one thing… you! Parents spend their ENTIRE lives, raising, loving, then worrying about their children’s. (I have experience here). Reverse it, before the chance to get to get to know them disappears. I will say it again. Parents are people too! Find out who they are. It really isn’t all about YOU! But it is a chance to find some things out about yourself!
I just hope it’s not too late for me, a missed opportunity! Hang on or let go, Daddy! It’s ok with me, either way!
The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From The Tree
It’s actually the way life was meant be
Like it or not, fight if you must
It takes a little time, but wait you’ll see
