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It's all in the attitude
By juliezavala in My Turn
October 13, 2010

Image If I greet my Dad with a smile, a positive attitude and (of course) a fresh cup of coffee each morning, he tends to be in a much better mood all day. Who wouldn't, right? I only mention this because Dad and I are figuring out how to be friends, not just father and daughter. I'm learning more about him every day.

Throughout my life I was always closest to my Mom. We talked and laughed together so easily--we were so alike--and she was a wonderful friend. Daddy was the one who paid the bills and was gone a lot of the time because he worked so much overtime at his job. He wasn't really cool like my Mom who listened to all the latest top 40 songs, always had hobbies like bottle hunting, bowling, wood carving, writing, drawing, camping...the list goes on.

Now I'm getting to know the man who provided the nice home, food on the table, financing for those camping trips and piano lessons, and a pretty stable family life. I owe him for all of that and more. We've been re-introduced to each other as elderly parent and middle aged daughter. We're starting to appreciate things about each other. He's funny and caring and pretty silly sometimes. The things that used to seem corny about him now seem endearing. He's my newest friend.