This week, for Fun Monday, Karisma wants us to “take a trip down memory lane, and keep right on going, right back to your childhood. And I want to hear “THAT STORY”. You remember the one? Yes, you do! The one your parents, siblings, extended family or friends, would never let you forget, live down or get over!”
Hmmm…now why on earth would I want to tell one of the many stories that would embarrass me??? Let’s see…there’s the one about me eating dirt, (but that’s more about my parents not feeding me), the one about my artistic abilities with um…a very interesting media (but that’s not my fault either, one has to work with what one has) There’s the story of my foul mouth (but then again, my dad was a sailor…Hey! I know…
When I was about two or so, my dad, like many others in our Navy town went off to sea on a WestPac. (For you landlubbers, a WestPac is a tour of the Western Pacific waters that lasts for six to nine months.) It’s hard on the sailors at sea, and equally hard for those loved ones left at home.
In an effort to comfort me, and most likely to keep me from forgetting who my daddy was, my mom showed me a framed photo of my dad. I’m pretty sure it was this one. (I’m sure I will be corrected if I am mistaken)
It seem that in my young mind, the photo became my Daddy. I carted that picture around with me, hugging and kissing on it everywhere I went. I even nestled to sleep with my surrogate father. There was no way in the world I was going to forget my daddy…he was always with me.
Finally, the long awaited day came, the fleet was pulling into the home port. Mama and I were dressed to the nines waiting to greet our sailor home at long last. When Dad arrived and pulled us into his arms, I burst into tears. This big, hulking man with the scratchy face wasn’t my daddy! Mine was the one I carried around with me all the time!
This is me. It is cropped down from a set of pictures my mother had taken of the two of us. I can’t seem to locate the whole photo right now, so you don’t get to see my lovely mother.
I can understand your fear….it’s totally different in real life….isn’t it?
You sure were a cute kid and your sailor was pretty good too.
Poor little girl, what a disappointment ! My mother told me once that each time when my dad showed up after one week work in another city I screemed like cat on who’s tail somebody walked. I was two then apparently.
It makes me wonder about all these Flat Daddies that are so popular right now. I’d think they’d scare the kids to death.
Oh my god, what happened to daddy??
I love the pictures! My dad has always had a mustache, and I remember when I was young that he shaved it one time, and I wouldn’t go near him…I did’nt trust that guy without the mustache! haha…he wasn’t my daddy! 😉
Anni~It sure is…especially for a kid!
Peter~Aw, thanks!
Gattina~Is that why they call it the terrible twos?
RC~LOL You crack me up! I hadn’t realized that was the new thing…kinda fun though! (But poor Daddy…)
My husband has a Navy photo a lot like that one – but I think he looked a lot different when he returned, with more hair than when he left! Funny story!
What a precious story! I love it.
Aww. That’s so sweet you carried the picture around with you. And, how scary to discover a 3-D version that did not compare with the photo! I wonder what your dad thought of you crying??
What a sweet story! During the second world war, when my dad returned from his civil service duty in France, my youngest brother asked my mom “is that an uncle?”.
Great story. Thanks for sharing.
Wonderful photos & story.
I’m picturing an adorable little girl sleeping next to daddy’s picture – ohmigosh I’m about to go water works!
Take care
My dad was serving in Vietnam the year I was born, so I didn’t meet him until I was almost fourteen months old. My mom says I spent the first two months crying whenever he tried to hold me….I’ve never thought about how difficult this must have been for him. Great photos.
Handsome Sailor Dad! And awww, look at cute little you with the chubby cheeks. You look so angelic!
I want to hear more about your artistic abilities with “a very interesting media.” I wonder what that could be …………
those are long tours… I hope you finally snuggled in and enjoyed being his little girl again.
Aw! I guess her plan worked TOO well. 🙂
Ugh! Westpacs! I’m glad you had your “daddy” to keep you company. Your picture is so adorable.
Bless your heart! Gosh! You were a beautiful little thing!
What a pretty baby you were! I’m assuming you recovered and loved to hug your “scratchy” daddy, too!
You were very cute. It is funny and sad how little ones get a perception of things. Sirdar had a beard for awhile when our oldest was 2, then shaved it off. She always went around to his side of the bed in the morning, and when he looked at her and smiled, there was a look of shock and fear on her face. His voice was right, but not the face and it took a few minutes for it to register for her.
What a great story. It makes me think of how blessed those of us were who had our daddies at home and what a hardship it is for those children whose dads are away.
Oh boy – I bet he had changed a lot in that time! Of course you wouldn’t have recognized him. Very sweet story.
Great story Sue. I guess a real Daddy would be much bigger and more scary than a “flat Daddy” i love that description. I never experienced anything like that but i can just imagine.
This is a wonderful story. Children’s minds are so vivid and active, its no wonder you took awhile to get used to your real dad again.
That’s cute. I think that when you think of people you think of them from when you last saw them. For you, that was that picture of your daddy. Very cute!!
Both are very cute photos!
Awwww! What an adorable little girl and a story. And a handsome father.