daddy's girl

It's 4:31pm and i just off of my speech 1a class, i reach down for my cellphone and speed dial home. My dad answers, i ask for my mom. I hear her voice, and i shout out excitedly that i received an A on my speech today. She congratulates me, and then i hear my dad go.. "How come you don't tell me that?"

Hmm..

Speaking from the past, i never really had a real relationship with my dad. I mean, i always dreamed of being a daddy's girl. But for some reason, it was never in the cards for me. I meant to blog on this daddy/daughter morning two days ago, but i never got the time. So, even though it was two days ago, let's recap.

I know this sounds mean, but sometimes i actually enjoy it when my parents are not talking because they're upset with one another. I don't enjoy the fact that my parents are unhappy but i like how whenever they are, they treat my brother and i nicer. Or so to speak, let's rephrase that.. my DAD treats ME differently. And when i mean different, it's a good thing. Saturday morning i wake up to my dad asking me if i could take him to the shop. He didn't want to ask my mom, well of course, because they weren't speaking to one another. Knowing that i really had no other choice, i agreed. We drove separate cars as we dropped off one, and when my dad got into my car, he asked probably in the FIRST time of my life, if i wanted to have breakfast with him. I think i actually paused for a minute, asking myself, did he really ask me that and then even though i had a lot of things to finish i also agreed hoping to achieve that relationship i longed for. It was an exciting moment for me, because i never really got to spend one on one time with my daddy. And even though he criticized my driving on the way i know i can't expect him to change completely. We ate breakfast at Garden Cafe, and i must say, they remodeled quite well. Each booth had mini flat screen TVs. As if Americans weren't addicted to television already, now they have to place it right in our faces as we eat.

My dad and i had quite an interesting conversation. He helped me out a lot on current events that i had to be familiar with for my upcoming speech. I never watched the news in the past so regretfully speaking, i know NOTHING, nada, in current affairs. Sad i know, which is why i made a commitment from now on to actually purchase the newspaper, read the articles and watch prime time news. I know that no matter what, my dad would always be the same. His character and his personality is always serious, talking about things that are only educational but i know his way of telling me about the financial crisis was his way of showing that he loved me. And no matter how much he criticized me, even though the way he says it may be discouraging, i know that he just wants the best for me.

Conversing with my father that Saturday morning also brought to my attention one episode on Samantha Who? when Sam tried to have a relationship with her father only to find her that father didn't really care for one. She knew that her father liked to go hunting so one morning she woke up extra early so she could accompany her dad. And because Sam wanted to actually talk with her dad, waiting patiently for a deer in silence only got her irritated. Sam and her dad gave each other the silent treatment for the next few days. They finally started talking again when Sam had to be picked up at the police station because of a misunderstanding, and expecting her mom to pick her up, her dad showed up instead. In the car, Sam's dad asked if she wanted the radio on and when he turned it on, a song reminded Sam of her mistreatment towards her dad a long time ago when she was a teenager. Her flashback brought back memories of her being embarrassed of her dad picking her up and how emotional she got around her father. Consequently, Sam's dad just decided not to deal with his sweet daughter because he didn't know HOW to get through to her.

This episode really got me thinking to my relationship with my dad. I know that at times, we butt heads because he wants me to be a certain way and i strongly disagree against him. His way of understanding me may be different than the way my mom understands me because he's a guy. And i realized that this beautiful morning spent with my father made really appreciate the things that he has done for me. I only wish that we have more opportunities like these in the near future. He may be condescending at times, but he has a funny side to him and i love him. A LOT.