This is such a beautifully written reflection - thank you for sharing it. This sounds similar to my husband's relationship with his father, which makes for some very complicated grief. Good on you for continuing to try and understand him as a full person, in all his complexity - it can't be easy, I'm sure.
This was such a lovely and touching piece and I'm so sorry about what he went through with Crohn's. I had a flatmate at university that had it and I remember how horrible it was for him.
What you said about your dad never being bitter about his circumstances and not complaining. That, to me, is a valuable lesson in some respects and one I would like to follow. I don't mean it in the becoming numb sense necessarily, but I do feel like I harbour too resentment at times and I'm terrible for holding grudges and not letting things go, and it can be a weight. Being able to dismiss things with nonchalance seems like it would be a more tolerable way to live, but then again, perhaps not.
I never knew most of this. I remember you told me he was from Germany. I didn't know the rest. I didn't see mine much either. I don't have many memories if time spent with mine. I hope your memories are all fresh and happy. Xo <3
What a compassionate view to be curious of your father’s challenge with survival. We would all do better to look with this loving curiosity to those in our lives. Lovely share.
This is such a beautifully written reflection - thank you for sharing it. This sounds similar to my husband's relationship with his father, which makes for some very complicated grief. Good on you for continuing to try and understand him as a full person, in all his complexity - it can't be easy, I'm sure.
Ah, that explains your surname then!
This was such a lovely and touching piece and I'm so sorry about what he went through with Crohn's. I had a flatmate at university that had it and I remember how horrible it was for him.
What you said about your dad never being bitter about his circumstances and not complaining. That, to me, is a valuable lesson in some respects and one I would like to follow. I don't mean it in the becoming numb sense necessarily, but I do feel like I harbour too resentment at times and I'm terrible for holding grudges and not letting things go, and it can be a weight. Being able to dismiss things with nonchalance seems like it would be a more tolerable way to live, but then again, perhaps not.
I never knew most of this. I remember you told me he was from Germany. I didn't know the rest. I didn't see mine much either. I don't have many memories if time spent with mine. I hope your memories are all fresh and happy. Xo <3
What a compassionate view to be curious of your father’s challenge with survival. We would all do better to look with this loving curiosity to those in our lives. Lovely share.