The Change
Undelivered Father's Day card60 total reviews
Comment from lancellot
Great tale. You showed that with forgiveness things can get better, and looking forward is better than living in the pain of the past. Perfect
reply by the author on 21-Jun-2015
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Great tale. You showed that with forgiveness things can get better, and looking forward is better than living in the pain of the past. Perfect
Comment Written 21-Jun-2015
reply by the author on 21-Jun-2015
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Thank you, lancellot, for your generous, six star review. Yes, forgiveness is better than living in the pain of the past.
Comment from sibhus
Great story. I can really relate to this as my father was never around when I was a kid. I was the first child, the breaking in one, while the rest were the ones he cared for, but in the end it was me that took care of him. A very well written piece that really showed this special moment in your life. Thanks for sharing.
reply by the author on 21-Jun-2015
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Great story. I can really relate to this as my father was never around when I was a kid. I was the first child, the breaking in one, while the rest were the ones he cared for, but in the end it was me that took care of him. A very well written piece that really showed this special moment in your life. Thanks for sharing.
Comment Written 21-Jun-2015
reply by the author on 21-Jun-2015
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Thank you, sibhus, for your kind review. I am glad you can relate to my story. Yes, of his children by his first marriage, I was the one who visited and dressed him. I was the one who visited his death bed, even though he was calling the names of all of his children. I do not regret for one moment these special moments I INVESTED in my father. They gave me the few memories I have of him. Once again, thanks.
Comment from MelB
Very well written Sis Cat. I'm so sorry that your father made the choices he did. Sadly, there are so many absentee fathers in the world. This leaves a deep hole of abandonment and rejection in the children. You are loved by a Father in Heaven who will never leave you or forsake you! I think it is so wonderful that you showed your father kindness and forgiveness. A great example of what he should have been. I do remember Mr. Rodgers and the changing sweaters!
reply by the author on 21-Jun-2015
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Very well written Sis Cat. I'm so sorry that your father made the choices he did. Sadly, there are so many absentee fathers in the world. This leaves a deep hole of abandonment and rejection in the children. You are loved by a Father in Heaven who will never leave you or forsake you! I think it is so wonderful that you showed your father kindness and forgiveness. A great example of what he should have been. I do remember Mr. Rodgers and the changing sweaters!
Comment Written 21-Jun-2015
reply by the author on 21-Jun-2015
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Thank you, MelB, for your encouraging review. Yes, I am loved by a Father in Heaven who will never leave me or forsake me! Thank you for putting a spiritual perspective on things.
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You're welcome:) My husband has been through the same thing with his father, so I know somewhat how deeply painful it is.
Comment from dmt1967
This story reminded me of my relationship with my father. He was never at home and even worked Christmas day to stay away. This is a well written story and thank you for sharing. Have a great weekend.
reply by the author on 21-Jun-2015
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This story reminded me of my relationship with my father. He was never at home and even worked Christmas day to stay away. This is a well written story and thank you for sharing. Have a great weekend.
Comment Written 21-Jun-2015
reply by the author on 21-Jun-2015
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Thank you for your kind review. I am glad my story resonated with you and reminded you of your relationship with your father, as sad as those memories may be. Once again, thanks.
Comment from justafan
Very sad for you, my friend. I never really knew my father either. He was killed when I was 5. Though not the same as an absent father the feeling of abandonment is there. My life was filled with stepfathers who were drunks and abusive to my mother and my siblings. I am glad you were able to connect on some level with your dad.
Blessings on the Father's Day. Even if you are not one.:)
Always justafan,
Missy
reply by the author on 21-Jun-2015
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Very sad for you, my friend. I never really knew my father either. He was killed when I was 5. Though not the same as an absent father the feeling of abandonment is there. My life was filled with stepfathers who were drunks and abusive to my mother and my siblings. I am glad you were able to connect on some level with your dad.
Blessings on the Father's Day. Even if you are not one.:)
Always justafan,
Missy
Comment Written 21-Jun-2015
reply by the author on 21-Jun-2015
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Thank you, justafan, for your kind review and memories. No matter how we lose our fathers, we are stranded with the feeling of abandonment. I an glad I connected with my father on some level. Thanks again for your review.
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Comment from thee-name
Excellent story. Seen no mistakes. writing was interesting.
I hated Father's Day when I was growing up.
Three years later Dad died of prostate cancer.
During Christmas that year, I placed our event photo on the mantel. Now I left our picture on his alter year round next to my award on the wall. Whenever I got good news, I smiled at the picture and said," Dad, you would not believe what happened today.
reply by the author on 23-Jun-2015
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Excellent story. Seen no mistakes. writing was interesting.
I hated Father's Day when I was growing up.
Three years later Dad died of prostate cancer.
During Christmas that year, I placed our event photo on the mantel. Now I left our picture on his alter year round next to my award on the wall. Whenever I got good news, I smiled at the picture and said," Dad, you would not believe what happened today.
Comment Written 21-Jun-2015
reply by the author on 23-Jun-2015
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Thank you, thee-name, for your kind review. I am glad my excellent story interested you.
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thank you!
Comment from giraffmang
Hi Andre,
This was a beautiful piece of writing.
The tone of the piece really draws the reader in to the emotion of the piece.
It is a very emotional journey and that really comes across well.
My father died when I was eighteen and still in school. He was a good Dad. My regret is that I never knew him man to man. He never knew what I became. I was the youngest of three brothers and Dad's hopes for us all fell on me in the end and I spent the next four years trying to do the things that would make him proud. Mum says he would be, but there is still a hole as well.
I loved this professional and emotional write.
All the best
G
reply by the author on 23-Jun-2015
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Hi Andre,
This was a beautiful piece of writing.
The tone of the piece really draws the reader in to the emotion of the piece.
It is a very emotional journey and that really comes across well.
My father died when I was eighteen and still in school. He was a good Dad. My regret is that I never knew him man to man. He never knew what I became. I was the youngest of three brothers and Dad's hopes for us all fell on me in the end and I spent the next four years trying to do the things that would make him proud. Mum says he would be, but there is still a hole as well.
I loved this professional and emotional write.
All the best
G
Comment Written 21-Jun-2015
reply by the author on 23-Jun-2015
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Thank you, giraffmang, for your generous, six star review. I understand your regret and the hole you feel. The best thing I can do about mine is to create, write, perform, and treat people with love, kindness, and generosity. I cannot do anything about my past. I can do something about how I live my life in the present. Thank you for your review.
Comment from scd41
Attitude is all that matters. You showed to the world how you changed for the better although your father had failed to do his part when you needed it most. Your story is a tribute to your father on Father's Day. It is quite narrated touchingly and is also inspirational.
reply by the author on 21-Jun-2015
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Attitude is all that matters. You showed to the world how you changed for the better although your father had failed to do his part when you needed it most. Your story is a tribute to your father on Father's Day. It is quite narrated touchingly and is also inspirational.
Comment Written 21-Jun-2015
reply by the author on 21-Jun-2015
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Thank you for your kind review. Yes, my story is a tribute to my father on Father's Day. I placed my original, undelivered Father's Day card on the shelf by our awards and picture. I am glad my story touched you.
Comment from jlsavell
Andre,
Your story is so moving and so filled with compassion and loving-kindness, it is hard to find the right words. You are in love with loving kindness.
Our stories are quite similar. I, too, knew as a wee child I was different. In fact, all my years of maturing and growing up, I could not assimilate nor reconcile how my peers had such love for their Father. It was beyond my grasp for the love and attention from a Father was as foreign to me as Swahili.
He did enter my life in my late 20's and though I was reluctant, my conscience would not allow me to reject. You said it so very beautifully in this work.
When my Father passed, I didn't grieve because I lost someone dear to me, I grieved at the" loss of never was" and at the shattered shards of a life of what ifs.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful work. I am moved.
You must tell me more about working with the disabled.
Are you from New Mexico? Albuquerque is one of my favorite places, especially during the hot air balloon festivals.
You have a beautiful day.
Jimi
reply by the author on 23-Jun-2015
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Andre,
Your story is so moving and so filled with compassion and loving-kindness, it is hard to find the right words. You are in love with loving kindness.
Our stories are quite similar. I, too, knew as a wee child I was different. In fact, all my years of maturing and growing up, I could not assimilate nor reconcile how my peers had such love for their Father. It was beyond my grasp for the love and attention from a Father was as foreign to me as Swahili.
He did enter my life in my late 20's and though I was reluctant, my conscience would not allow me to reject. You said it so very beautifully in this work.
When my Father passed, I didn't grieve because I lost someone dear to me, I grieved at the" loss of never was" and at the shattered shards of a life of what ifs.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful work. I am moved.
You must tell me more about working with the disabled.
Are you from New Mexico? Albuquerque is one of my favorite places, especially during the hot air balloon festivals.
You have a beautiful day.
Jimi
Comment Written 21-Jun-2015
reply by the author on 23-Jun-2015
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Jimi, thank you for your generous, six star review. I understand that grief "at the 'loss of never was' and at the shattered shards of a life of what ifs." The only way I can overcome that grief is to write, tell stories, pen poems. Writing saved my life after I lost both parents eleven weeks apart.
I am not from New Mexico, but my father lived there from 1975 until he passed in 2012. Once I visited him during the hot air balloon festival to ride a balloon at dawn.
Here is my first interview in which I speak of my work with a disabled woman to help her write her story. Enjoy:
http://www.wordgathering.com/past_issues/issue28/interviews/gray2.html
Thanks again for your review.
Comment from sweetwoodjax
this is an excellent write, sis cat, you did an excellent job telling this story about forgiveness toward your father and your changed attitude. I enjoyed reading if.
reply by the author on 21-Jun-2015
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this is an excellent write, sis cat, you did an excellent job telling this story about forgiveness toward your father and your changed attitude. I enjoyed reading if.
Comment Written 21-Jun-2015
reply by the author on 21-Jun-2015
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Thank you, sweetwoodjax, for your kind review of my story about forgiveness. I am glad our story touched you.
