My Daughter Called

I was laying in bed last Sunday when I heard the phone ring while I was dozing off. Something stuck with me about that phone call even while I was sleeping. Eventually in the wee hours of the morning I got out of bed a bit groggy and made it to the living room to get the phone. Then I stumbled back to bed and laid the phone beside me. Every now and then I would reach out and touch it to make sure it was still there. Finally I picked it up to see the number. It was from my Daughter's hometown. That could also be my niece since she lives there as well. However, I figured it was my daughter. I had heard third hand that she was getting engaged. So being a bit sarcastic I knew she was in need of a Dad Prop. I had not heard from her in 7 years or more though I had reached out 4 or 5 times.

In the wee hours of the morning I played the message. Sure enough it was her. She was engaged and her fiance' proposed in Paris. She wants to get married in the Caribbean somewhere. Before I responded to her message I called a woman friend. She said what great news! Let me just say at first I was going to get a bit haughty. I felt after seven years to call me just because you needed a dad prop was out of line. I mean when I'm done being the Dad prop will I go back into storage?!

However my friend got me to thinking differently. Then I thought about a time many years ago when things weren't going my way. A man I worked with said to me, "Ron, I know that people have crapped on you but you still have to do the right thing." I pondered it all. There's still a bit of rage in me. Then I wondered how will I make that phone call. Also, what strength did it take for my daughter to call me? I wasn't sure even how to start the conversation. I thought about it for a bit then decided to offer some advice based upon my marriage. Well sort of. My ex-wife has mental issues and is in assisted living. As I often say in jest, the home for the criminally insane.

Well I mentally work out the words. I call. "Hello." "Jennifer this is your Pa." "Hi dad!" She then repeats the message she left on my phone and adds she wants to get married in the Caribbean. Building from my ex-wife's history "If you don't mind I'd like to give you some advice. You should give him some kind of Ink Blot test. Tell him there's no right or wrong answer. But of course there is." She roars with laughter. We discuss our lives and what we have done in the past few years. The phone call ends with "I love you."