Tuesday, April 17, 2007

58

Today is my dad's birthday. He never made a big deal of it in life, and I see no reason to do it now. That won't stop the rest of my family from caterwauling over it, but that's because they still haven't come to terms.

My dad once told me a story of a shepherd he'd met during his travels in the Middle East. He said the man had to have been around 70 years old, but that he never knew his own birthday. All he knew was that it was sometime in the winter.

My child-mind was aghast at the thought of missing out on all those birthday wishes, but I suspect my dad admired him for not knowing or caring. That was one of the fascinating/frustrating things about my father. All the trappings of earthly existence were like chains to him. I understand why now that I'm older, but he did make a lot of innocent fun seem stupid. I don't know if it is possible to have an inferiority complex and a superiority complex at the same time, but if it is, then I had them. And it was all his fault - a thought which would probably amuse him if he were here.

I miss you, Dad. Pray for us.

2 comments:

Linda Ringwood said...

I really loved your post. Your dad was indeed a person with great philanthropic feelings and these kind of people are rare. I wish a very happy birthday from the bottom of my heart.

Zelda said...

Thanks, Linda.