Well, I'm now home from my visit with my father.
The day with him started shortly after 11am, as we met at 30th Street Station In Philly. I arrived first, and about five minutes later, he came up the stairs. The last time I had seen him, I was very overweight, and he was quite thin, after his angioplasty. Today, he arrived to see me having gained twenty five pounds. (Which concerned me, because I know that isnt good for his heart). I swore to myself that I was not going to cry, but, as we all know, one can never plan emotions, and I burst into tears when I saw him. We then took a cab, and went to lunch at an outdoor cafe in Center City Philly, and did much walking. My father told me that he will be in need of cataract surgery on both eyes, a procedure both of my grandmothers had. We did have a few tense words. My father then suggested that we should make an attempt to shelve the volcanic fighting and talk for the time being, and try to focus on rebuilding our relationship. I agreed to that, at least for now. At some point, he and I are going to have to sit down, and have a blowout conversation, about what drove us apart in the first place. What I'm hopeful of, is that the blowout conversation, can be done as a fight between a father and son, where we can yell and scream, and air our feelings, and then come to a resolution, that will keep us together, and not cause another estrangement.
All in all, I would rate the day a "Not Too Bad". I have reason for concern, but also hope.
Anyhow, so that's it. I'm going to talk to him on Monday, and will hopefully see him again in no more than one or two months time.
Thanks again to everyone who posted messages of support. It means a lot. I will post updates as needed.
Mitch
The day with him started shortly after 11am, as we met at 30th Street Station In Philly. I arrived first, and about five minutes later, he came up the stairs. The last time I had seen him, I was very overweight, and he was quite thin, after his angioplasty. Today, he arrived to see me having gained twenty five pounds. (Which concerned me, because I know that isnt good for his heart). I swore to myself that I was not going to cry, but, as we all know, one can never plan emotions, and I burst into tears when I saw him. We then took a cab, and went to lunch at an outdoor cafe in Center City Philly, and did much walking. My father told me that he will be in need of cataract surgery on both eyes, a procedure both of my grandmothers had. We did have a few tense words. My father then suggested that we should make an attempt to shelve the volcanic fighting and talk for the time being, and try to focus on rebuilding our relationship. I agreed to that, at least for now. At some point, he and I are going to have to sit down, and have a blowout conversation, about what drove us apart in the first place. What I'm hopeful of, is that the blowout conversation, can be done as a fight between a father and son, where we can yell and scream, and air our feelings, and then come to a resolution, that will keep us together, and not cause another estrangement.
All in all, I would rate the day a "Not Too Bad". I have reason for concern, but also hope.
Anyhow, so that's it. I'm going to talk to him on Monday, and will hopefully see him again in no more than one or two months time.
Thanks again to everyone who posted messages of support. It means a lot. I will post updates as needed.
Mitch
