Father’s Day is coming, and I am looking forward to it. That was not always the case. In fact, I ignored Father’s Day for over six years.
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My father died in 1997. He had been going back and forth to doctors for a few months. They couldn’t figure out what was wrong with him, so he continued to work. That’s what he knew, and that was his way.
He was readying to go work on a Saturday. He had some things he wanted to take care of at the office. He probably would have ended up doing more puttering than anything else. Anyway, he received a call instructing him to go to the hospital. So, he did.
Our family still was not informed of the seriousness of his condition. On Tuesday afternoon, the day after his 65th birthday, I received a phone call. Things had become bleak. I rushed in to Philadelphia from New York. I didn’t get to see my father till it was too late. That still upsets me to this day. I think it always will.
When Father’s Day 1998 came, I had no interest in acknowledging the day. What for? I did not have a father, and I did not have children. I felt left out and did my best to go about my day like it was any other Sunday. I ignored the advertisements for power tools and silly ties. I changed the station whenever I heard My Father’s Eyes by Eric Clapton which seemed to be on every radio station’s playlist.
I could have celebrated the day. Each of my older brothers was married with young children. I could have eaten a piece of cake, oohed and ahhed at a smiling baby and said happy Father’s Day. Yes, I’m sure my brothers would have been happy to have me hang out with them on Father’s Day. But I didn’t want to. I would wallow on my own, feeling sad and left out. “Such is life,” or so I thought.
As the years went by and the pain over the loss of my father ebbed, I continued my tradition of ignoring Father’s Day. What was the point? There was nothing for me on that day. In fact, one year I went to the beach. There were four of us. I thought of us as the “Dead Fathers’ Club,” although one of the beach-goers was simply estranged from his father. Wasn’t he lucky!
In January of 2002, my wife and I married. One of the things we had in common was we both had lost our father. No, it’s not what drew us together.
Anyway, Father’s Day continued to be non-entity as far as I was concerned.
Two years later, in April of 2004, our first son, BR, was born.
When the third Sunday in June arrived that year, it once again had meaning to me. I was a father. Father’s Day was a day for me. I was ready to celebrate my role as a father.
I have memories of the day. My wife and I had a bagel brunch. We’re big on brunch in my household. I strapped BR into the baby Bjorn and the three of us headed to the park. We did that often in those days.
We wandered along Riverside Park in Upper Manhattan. As you can guess by the name, the park is on the New York City side of the Hudson River. There are views of the George Washington Bridge along with various New Jersey towns. We strolled through the park. There was no rush.
I don’t remember the exact conversation. However, I’m sure my wife and I talked about our family. Our growing family. Sleep deprivation, dirty diapers, and crying – those subjects probably came up as well. It seems like those subjects were always on our minds.
But I didn’t mind. I was with my family. I had every reason to celebrate. Life felt complete. I was content.
This is the 10th year since BR gave Father’s Day back to me. He and SJ have given me more than they could ever know over the years, and I have every reason to enjoy Father’s Day.
The baton has been passed. Though I miss my father and wish he and my father-in-law would be around and be part of the day, I am happy. So, I celebrate Father’s Day for me, as a dad.
what a great story MMK! I’m so very happy that you have found fun and favor in Father’s Day again! What a pleasure for you and your family! Happy Father’s Day!
Thanks Kate for all of those things.
I am glad to hear you have found pleasure in Father’s Day again. Kids are a blessing.
Yes, they certainly can be – at times one I appreciate more than others.
Hope you have a great Father’s Day! You have two great reasons to celebrate every day.
Thanks. I agree.
It’s amazing the wonderful things our children have given us over the years, without their knowledge even.
Happy Father’s Day, Larry. I hope you have a wonderful day with your beautiful family.
I enjoyed the day. It’s fun to get extra attention every once in a while.
I remember my mom buying me a mother’s day card when I first got pregnant. It surprised me.
Cool. Maybe, it was her way of welcoming you to the ranks of parenthood.