MEMORIES FOR FATHER'S DAY
(I was very fortunate that my mom became an atheist and that Dad became agnostic/atheistic.)

Four years ago I spoke at my dad's memorial and I told this story. I knew he always loved me and he always supported me.

One evening he drove me to a parent/teachers meeting and he sat there as I spoke with parents. When we left, he was beaming with pride after seeing who I was professionally, and how I was able to speak to parents in a comforting and guiding way.

But I had to think that somewhere deep down, he was disappointed to have a son who was gay, not into sports, with a visual impairment. He never indicated any of this and I never tried to be anything other than who I am. For this reason, I never said anything to him about this, because it was what it was.

A couple of years before he died, he called me and said that he wanted to speak with me, but it had to be in person. My dad was shy and a man of few words. This had to be major, and it was.

We were in the car together a couple of weeks later and I asked him what he wanted to say to me. I really had no idea.

My dad was concerned that I might be disappointed with him. He wanted me to know that he did his best for the family.

I could not believe that he was sharing this with me and that he felt this way. Not only was I never disappointed with him, but I could not have been more proud at that moment to call him Dad.

I answered him by relaying stories of the places we went together, things that we did, and all the sacrifices he made for the family. I know he died with the knowledge that he was loved and never, ever was I disappointed to have him as my dad.