Long story short, my parents, along with my grandmother, were in a very bad car wreck a few days ago. Whoa whoa slow down... before you panic or start offering condolences, let me tell you that everyone is fine. No one even went to the hospital, though Granny declined the ride in the fire truck so she could ride behind the cage in the police car. Lots of winter clothes, good seat belts, Granny's force field, etc. all played a roll in the three escaping literally without a scratch. My point I guess is that regardless of who or what any of us believe saved these people so very dear to me, I am thankful that they are now home and safe. So here I offer a list of a few reasons why I love my parents. Lame, but I have to express my thankfulness in some way, and since I am not a particularly religious person, I send these thanks out to the universe at large (aka the Internet).
- As the title suggests, my parents made up songs. These are songs the whole family would sing and laugh and even make up hand motions for sometimes. These were songs I thought everyone knew, but I was mistaken. Many times in my life, as a child and as an adult, I have started singing one of these songs thinking that they were general knowledge, only to find that I was singing long, loud choruses by myself as others stared silently with wondering looks on their faces.
- I have never doubted, even once, ever, that my parents loved me. Even during the years when my dad would have referee fights between my mother and me, I knew. Even when my father was mad and looked "frog eye" style at me while crushing my hand, I knew. Even when I hid in the barn because I was convinced I had killed my brother, I knew. Even when I showed up in the middle of the night and could not stop crying for hours, I knew they would not care I had waken them up. I know there are children who truly doubt or question how their parents feel about them, but I don't. Never.
- They always allowed pets. Rabbit Redford to Goldie. Skooterpie to Pepper. They laughed and cried with my brother and me through every pet we had as kids...and there were lots.
- My parents have an amazing marriage. A marriage that has survived ups and downs and is full of love and laughter and life. I have always held their relationship up as an example of what I hope mine would be. Now I am married to a man who is so much like my dad that it scares me sometimes. They say every girl wants to marry a man like her father (and I am a lot like my mom), but I think for me it is more an homage to both my parents, to their relationship and my faith in what marriage can be that I learned from watching them.
- My parents took us places. As far back as I can remember I have been traveling with my family. Being a teacher now, and coming into contact with so many children I am learning more and more that the sheer amount of travel we did, and still do, is not the usual. From visiting family out of state, to traveling to state and local parks, to traveling across America...my parents took Aaron and me places.
- They decided to adopt. My brother rocks. Enough said.
