Father's Day

[twasadark]

I love my dad. I really do, despite the few (okay 58,000,905) issues I have had growing up. Now he's in his 70s and life is getting tough. I called him to wish him a happy Father's Day and this is what he said:

• I can't see
• I can't breathe
• I don't even get enjoyment out of TV anymore
• The world is going to hell
• I hate life and hope to die soon

Sigh. Someone kick my ass if I ever become that negative, okay?

Our daughter got my husband a beer holster for Father's Day. He's planning all the places he can use it (meetings of the homebrew club, parties, etc.).

Oh, family. You are a neverending source of trauma amusement.

Comments

[zoemathemata.livejournal.com]

It's tough when parents are negative. My mum can sometimes be a negative nelly. and I'm a problem fixer so when something's 'broken' I'm like "Well! Let me FIX THAT FOR YOU"

But she doesn't want it to be fixed, y'know?

I find the negativity is like this black hole that sucks in your energy if you don't break out of the orbit every so often.

[leavingslowly.livejournal.com]

That sounds so familiar - my grandpa repeated pretty much the exact same refrain starting in his late 70s! I do not think men handle old age well. He made it to 87 and was really annoyed at about it. A couple weeks before he died my mom and I went to visit him at his nursing home and his memory was going so he asked her why he was there and my mom said, "you have cancer." He goes, "really, is it going to kill me?" My mom tells him yes and he says, "excellent, finally!"

[twasadark.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm the same way. My dad's been like this for his whole life though so I don't suppose he'll do a Scrooge-like turnabout and be grateful for life. I hear what you say about it sucking my energy, too. Argh!

[twasadark.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that will probably be my dad, too. I can't believe he said, "excellent, finally!" That's morbidly amusing. Poor guy!

[leavingslowly.livejournal.com]

I know! My mom and I had to assure the nurse that this was normal behavior. This is a man who told me when I was 10 that the only reason we're born is to die, and who told a Baptist prayer group that he thought believing in God was like believing in Santa Claus!

[twasadark.livejournal.com]

OMG - what a character!

[mizbhaven13.livejournal.com]

I hear ya, sister! My father & I never got along when I was a kid but once I had my daughter, we had a pretty good relationship. Unfortunately, he passed away 6 months after she was born. My mother was (and still is) very bitter about him after their divorce when I was 12 (33 years ago). I had posted a pic of me & Dad on Facebook earlier this week. One of my family members told Mom about it and she threw a wall-eyed hissy fit. I took it down just so I wouldn't have to deal with her any more.
Seriously, old people are total pains in the rear sometimes.

[twasadark.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear about your dad's passing, love. Yeah, your mom is a bit of a challenge, isn't she? Damn, who has the energy to be bitter for 33 years?

[oresteia.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, I can't imagine that being easy. Old age can be hard on people, it's a sad story when it happens. But at least he's still with you.

And don't worry if he's a little sour, just smile and make him feel stupid for being mean.

[applegeuse.livejournal.com]

Ack, that's definitely the kind of conversation that's awkward and hard to direct to a more positive end, especially when you put in a nice effort to call and be cheering. Sorry to hear it. My grandfather is in his 80s and still going strong, so it's rather sad when a guy in his 70s is so very depressed about the direction of his life.

[twasadark.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he's no poster child for positive aging, for sure, lol! I am grateful that he's still around, regardless.

I wish he would feel bad for being mean but alas, he's pretty much been like this forever so I don't imagine that he'll change anytime soon. Maybe in the next life ...

BTW, love your new username!

[oresteia.livejournal.com]

danke^^. It was a great play and opera.

[twasadark.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I hear you. I don't know what I expect, though. He's pretty much always like this. I guess I should just shore myself up more when I call him so that I'm not caught off guard. I must say, I envy people with good relationships with their parents. It's always been a struggle for me, especially with my dad.

Wow, awesome news about your grandad going strong in his 80s! I love hearing about people like that!

[lostandalone22.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's bad. I'm sorry he feels that horrible.

[twasadark.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I hear you. He's fairly mobile, though. He can get around and isn't bedridden or anything. He just lives in the past when he could do all these things that he can't now.

He certainly inspires me to kick life's ass now while I still can!