Today, I am going to blog about a different kind of journey: The journey of life between a father and his daughter.
Rob is 58. He is a seasoned Army veteran of 31 years. He has a plethora of knowledge on the world and its workings. He has witnessed, first hand, things that would shock most of us. To say it simply, he is a bit hardened by his life experiences. He sees things through the eyes of a man who has served his country in times of extreme volatility. He has provided for us while sacrificing time spent with us. By the time he retired, he had been absent for years. That is just the way it was.
Things change while dads are away. Dads remember their daughters like this.
And dads wake up one day and they see this
And when they are busy knocking heads with their wonderfully independent daughters, they forget moments like this.
Megan is 19. She is incredibly bright, independent, empathetic and open minded. Her view of the world is fresh and positive. She acknowledges the problems we face but hopes for better things. She is not, thank goodness, hardened. She works hard and makes us proud.
It is not always clear that Rob and Megan are on the same planet. He baits her and she bites. I am torn between poking her for biting and smacking him for baiting. Their "discussions" can quickly elevate to arguments that neither is going to win.
Megan sees her father like this.
A PROUD SOLDIER, FATHER AND HUSBAND
I think she forgets that he is also like this.
This journey is difficult for everyone. Dads just want want their daughters to listen. They want them to be safe, happy and well cared for. Daughters just want dads to linger in the shadows and be there when needed but they do not want dads to impose on their way of thinking. As they age, their paths cross less and less. They must both learn to not waste those precious moments.
I watch them.
They disappoint and infuriate one another but the love is still there.
That is all that really matters.
Another great day in this thing we call life.
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