His absence stings of salt water and cigarettes
Memories of my childhood, of dry humor and spontaneity, with tidal waves of emotion
My father spent his life looking at the chip on his shoulder with fresh eyes and an unbridled enthusiasm for his point of view
I inadvertently learned a lot about myself, seeing him peel through the layers of his life and how he challenged the world around him
Every day was a peculiar adventure that I could never quite prepare myself for
I learned how to ride that wave and when to dig my heels in
I learned what was valuable to me and what deserves protection
I grew tough skin and an unbreakable core
Most importantly, I grew empathy for those who go through life nursing their wounds from severed bonds
His absence stings of salt water and cigarettes
Memories of my childhood, of dry humor and spontaneity, with tidal waves of emotion
He showed me the currency of our relationships is how we treat others and that where there’s a deficit there is brokenness
I learned the importance of healing and self-preservation
I learned that love could be complicated and questionable
My experience with my father liberated me from the notion that life and love was easy and had a fairytale ending
We are complex beings that yearn for love and understanding, anyways
His absence stings of salt water and cigarettes
Memories of my childhood, of dry humor and spontaneity, with tidal waves of emotion
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