Does someone send children memos notifying them of significant days? Vivian seems to have her bad behavior timer set to go off on holidays. Anyone recall how she behaved on Mother's Day this year?.
She was a weepy mess during church. Scott spent the entirety of the sermon and communion punishing her, walking with her, holding her and trying to comfort her between sobs. I guess this is a form of daddy-daughter bonding, just not the kind you aim for on Father's Day.
The episode reminded me that my daughter is disturbingly like me. Generally good humored until an unexplainable, unstoppable surge of emotion bubbles out like a science experiment gone wrong, as if her body is too small to contain what she is feeling. I was also reminded that Scott is a fantastic father. Firm, merciful and very, very patient.
Viv deserved an extra measure of patience after all we've drug her through these last few weeks. We've only been home two and half days during the entire month of June! The last few days we've been at Atlanta Fest. I guess you could say we're all exhausted, especially Scott.
It was nice to be with my entire family for Father's Day, though. We encased the dining room table eating spaghetti bolognese and cupcakes, two of my father's favorites. The entire time I kept mentally returning to that distant afternoon when my daddy first took me to Phantom of the Opera, the absolute passion of my third grade soul. According to him the show was sold out, but he kindly allowed me to pick something from the gift shop as a consolation prize. A few minutes later I'd chosen an understated black baseball cap featuring nothing but a mask, and my daddy was asking me to check his shoe. Something in there was bothering him.
Four tickets. It was sold out, but he'd bought tickets ages ago. They almost had to give my ticket away because I was tap dancing on the moon with delight.
I return to this story time and time again when thinking about my daddy. Thanks to him I still see the world as a place of possibility and surprise, a place where a generous, thoughtful God may at any moment slide a ticket out from his dress socks.
To read more stories about my father read my 2010 Father's Day tribute.
Photo credit Kim Cunningham Photography
1 comment:
Sweet story abt your dad! That's awesome. I heard someone in church, but didn't realize it was Vivian! Bless her tired little heart! Thank for the photo cred! :)
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