My father lives in North Dakota. All by himself. So he spends lots of time in his truck discovering new places both near and far. He says it's his dime-store Jesus that brings him peace on the open road.
When I visited last October, we traveled over a thousand miles together in that truck. This pic was taken somewhere in South Dakota on the way back to Bismarck.
"Who travels for love finds a thousand miles not longer than one."
-Japanese proverb
I love this picture. It evokes so many emotions....a journey, a destination, freedom, escape....wonderful!!
ReplyDeleteThanks again for your encouraging and uplifting comment!! It means so much to me. I just wrote the epilogue last night and now I will submit it all. Thanks so much...again!! I will keep you posted!
Irene,
ReplyDeleteHow special it must have been for you to spend that time with your dad, isolated in your own small world, catching up and learning new things about each other. Thinking about it, I would love to have that opportunity with my dad. Unfortunately, I don't think that he would ever really allow his defenses down enough to let me in that deeply. It's complicated, really, so I just have to accept what I receive. I have already shared more with my own daughters than my father has shared with me in my forty five years. Sad for the both of us.
Big hugs,
Debbie
Alison, I had a feeling you'd like this pic. :)It's so reminiscent of the one you've been using on your Journey story.. probably that's what brought it to my mind.
ReplyDeleteAnd Deb, life is so strange. My father and I were estranged for about twelve years (until May 2006). I thought I would spend the rest of my life grieving his absence, then voila, he came back to me. So, yes, that trip was a huge huge blessing in my life. He missed so much of my life and the kids didn't even know him... then there he was, and I wouldn't trade that time with him for anything. Humans are very complicated creatures, aren't they? I wish you peace as you deal with your father... you never know how things may or may not change. But this I do know: hope dies last. And your kids are so lucky to have a mom like you.
Irene,
ReplyDeleteI am so grateful to hear that you and your dad reconciled. Things are always "okay" with my father, it's just that his wife puts herself in between us, sometimes. Not that she doesn't want me in his life, she just wants to be the go-between, so I often have to go through her, to talk to him. My parents finally divorced when I was about 18, and my step-mom was in the picture LONG before that, so it has been a learning process for me. My mother has always wanted me to "hate" her, but I just can't. Like the saying goes there are always three sides of the story...His, hers, and then the truth. I am a witness to the truth of what happened.
Anyway, I am so grateful that you shared your experience. I am happy to know that your dad came back to you. You deserve to have a loving father, and your children deserve their grandfather. My father and my brother have not spoken in over eleven years, and it is my constant prayer that they find peace with one another. My brother has two incredible daughters ages, 9 and 5, and they are ALL missing out on so much. I learned not to try to bring them back together, because I have been burned by being in the middle in the past. Your story gives me so much hope that someday, they will find a middle ground, and find their way back to one another. I know that they love each other. I am intuitive about people's feelings, sometimes even before they are ready to admit them to themselves.
Gosh I didn't mean to go on and on. I should have saved this for an email! Your experience just touched my soul.
Hugs and love,
Deb
How is grandma?
Oh yes,
ReplyDeleteI love the new header! It is so shiny and hopeful!
Hugs,
Deb