 I used to ride on top of dirt in the wheelbarrow. | 05/09/2005 9:37 p.m. Today I saw my dad for the first time in several months. Since before my birthday, since before Christmas? He came into Lawrence after I got off work, after taking my sister to lunch in Topeka. He took me to lunch,too. We went to Culver's. We tried to joke with our cashier, but Derek was having none of our shenanigans. I ate my buttercustardburgar quickly, I was pretty hungry. I looked up from my fries, because the sun shone in my eyes. I looked up to find the source of its reflection - my dad's hair. Somehow, in the months since I've seen him last, the color has evacuated what follicles he has left in operation. Even now, I can't pinpoint a word that accurately describes how I feel. He looked so vulnerable. My parents are getting older. When you're little, your parents are invincible. Your dad is Superman, your mom can make a last minute gift from anything. Somewhere along the line, you forget that they're people, too. They've loved and they've lost and they've done more than they'll ever be able to tell. And while I don't have the best (or, much of any) relationship with either of my parents, I don't want to forget today.
|