Father Figure

After Kathy divorced Ronnie, she married, divorced, remarried and divorced again. My suggestion to her was not to marry again; just live with a man. She took my advice when she met Rich. She fell in love with this handsome, charming man. They had just enough in common to enjoy each other’s company, yet they possessed enough differences make their lives interesting.

I call them “The Bickersons.” As I have previously noted, my mom, Kathy, likes to nag and Rich likes a good argument. They usually fight a good fight together and their relationship has usually grown because of it. Some relationships couldn’t withstand a good argument from time to time, but not these two. Maybe it is the making up they enjoy. Maybe they just need an outlet to deal with the pressures of every day life. Whatever the reason, their occasional disagreements helps their love grow stronger.

Rich loves my mom with a passion she has never known before. He has a relatively laid back nature, without being boring. He is outgoing, scrappy, amorous. Even though my sister and I are not his own, he has always shown us love and respect. We have come to love and respect him, adopting him as our dad. His own children are not very close to him, and since that is their own choice, I am convinced that it is definitely their loss. Maybe they do not appreciate what I can see so clearly.

Rich has not forsaken, judged, or been cruel to me any way. He has always been giving, loving and accepting. Where my dad, Ronnie, has a tendency to be aloof and distant, Rich expresses his love openly and passionately. Though he may not have legally adopted me as my dad did, I have embraced him as my dad. He has been a profound influence in my life and for that I am extremely grateful. He has lived a devoted life, laughed a hearty laugh and loved a tender love. Thank you, Mom, for sharing this wondrous man’s love with me for the last fifteen years and for the rest of our lives!