A father's wisdom

I can see it now. My dad is opening this post with a smirk. My mother is looking at the link like,"What the f? That man can't do anything without me!" It's true :) My mother is infinitely wise. Everything that comes out of that woman's mouth is true, real and right. As much as we hate to admit it, the woman is seldom wrong. Dad, on the other hand, gives us tidbits, which are wonderful. Here are some:

"I was born at night, but not last night." (I use this one a lot.)

"Did your feet move when they hit the floor this morning?" (If the answer is yes, you have something to be grateful for.)

"This is what friends do." (This is most often said when we are helping a friend, or they are helping us. You don't think twice. You just help.)

"You can't buy this place, but you can rent it a week at a time." (He stole this from our family friend Joe Nolan, but he likes to say it nonetheless.)

"What color is your world today?" (He's the only person I know who asks this, and I like it.)

"Is there anybody really alive out there?" (Stolen from Bruce Springsteen, but I like when dad says it.)

I know there are more, and if dad can figure out how to comment on here :) he will add them.

And from both parents:
"There is nothing you could say, not say, do, not do, be, or not be - that would EVER make us stop loving you, and you can tell us anything." This has been vital. I can't imagine anything a parent could say that could mean more than what this has meant to our family. My mother used to tell me that if I ever decided to stop talking to her forever, she would "sit on my stoop" until I changed my mind. Nevermind that I don't have a stoop. She was always determined to find mine and sit on it. Luckily, she doesn't have to. There is nothing she could say, not say, do, not do, be, or not be - that would EVER make me stop loving her, and she can tell me anything.

This is what friends do.

And that's what happens when you grow up. Your parents morph from parents to friends. It's a strange transition, and not an easy one, but it is a welcome one.

I love those two.