Friday, February 15, 2008

Father and daughter

You never know when you are going to be surprised: two days ago, on behalf of my daughter trying to complete her homework assignment, I asked my father what his first job was. He promptly answered: navy officer, which of course I knew. I also knew he had gone to the Naval Academy straight from high school, as it was his only shot at getting a university degree in Engineering, given his family circumstances.

But for some reason I felt probing a little bit deeper (despite being in the car, at a busy junction, with two rowdy kids in the back, on a squeaky transatlantic connection): Yeah, I know that, Papa, but did you ever worked/helped out in a store, or a farm or whatever before the navy?

Mmmm.., yes, oh yes, I helped fixing bicycles in the bicycle repair shop in the country village I was displaced to during the war, I was interested about bicycles, and the guy fixed my bicycle for free, and in exchange I taught him to read! [pause] Oh, the things you make me remember...

The emotion in his voice was palpable, a rare thing with my father, as rare and precious as a true gem.

5 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

At last I am able to leave a comment !
A lovely story about your Papa. Maybe you need to have some more of those conversations with him.

I wanted to thank you for the lovely post you wrote about me. So sweet and kind. It is always a pleasure to fill someone with enthusiasm for something.
Hope you are well, and not working too hard. Make time to kit and spin !
I like your cream sweater from a previous post !

8:17 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh, I wonder if it was only because you were in a busy car that you were able to ask the deeper question -- and how interesting the results! It is a good reminder to ask, and talk to each other.

4:23 PM  
Blogger soapy said...

what a nice post about your papa! Makes me miss mine more!

Miss seeing your around!

11:44 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great story! I wish my dad was still here so I could have talks like that with him.

9:19 PM  
Anonymous Arifa Batool said...

Aww I like this post so much =)

10:27 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home