A few days ago, we went to the hospital to pick up my sister from work. While we were waiting for her to come out, an ambulance pulled in from my town, and for kicks, I just looked in the back. The lights were on. And who was there? My father! We were in shock. We knew he moved back here because my great-aunt and my grandmother (both on his side of the family) are dying. He moved back from Florida to help. Anyway, when my sister came out, we told her. She said she saw him too. She wanted to go over there to spook him out, since he would never expect my sister to be there let alone in scrubs. So she went and we were watching, and she starts talking to him! :eek: We didn't see that coming. She even hugged him. For anyone who doesn't know, when my father found out my brother was autistic 5 years ago, he left, never called us again. He told my sister he never stopped thinking about us and my grandmother would love to see us before she dies. She has cancer, going for her fourth round of chemo he said. My sister hasn't decided what to do. Since I am going to be 18, my mother said I can decide this on my own. He said he'd love to see me and Erin (my sister.) My mom won't let my brother near him. So I have to decide what to do. Tomorrow is my day to get in contact with him and I'm just not sure. Has he really changed? Will this be on big goose chase? I want a relationship with my father SO bad. Anything has to be better than crying every father's day. I figured maybe I'd start slowly, email him. See what he says.

I really need opinions! Thanks!:)

Running into the father you haven't seen in five years at the hospital. This has to be one of the strangest things I have ever heard. I think that you should probably give him a chance. Even though he may have caused you a lot of hurt in the past, he is still your father. Though, I think that it would be a good idea to take things slowly and not to rush into anything. Then if things don't work out, you will not be as hurt and disappointed. Your father leaving because of your brother's condition was a terrible thing for him to have done, but some parents just have a great deal of difficulty excepting a child with a handicap. It is not that they are being heartless, I think when a parent learns that their child has a handicap they often times feel guilty wondering if it was something they did that caused the handicap. And that can sometimes be a pretty big burden.

Good luck, Kell. :)

Running into the father you haven't seen in five years at the hospital. This has to be one of the strangest things I have ever heard. I think that you should probably give him a chance. Even though he may have caused you a lot of hurt in the past, he is still your father. Though, I think that it would be a good idea to take things slowly and not to rush into anything. Then if things don't work out, you will not be as hurt and disappointed. Your father leaving because of your brother's condition was a terrible thing for him to have done, but some parents just have a great deal of difficulty excepting a child with a handicap. It is not that they are being heartless, I think when a parent learns that their child has a handicap they often times feel guilty wondering if it was something they did that caused the handicap. And that can sometimes be a pretty big burden.

Good luck, Kell. :)

Thanks Mike. I think I am going to send him an email tomorrow and take it from there. I'll let you know. I think I want to take the chance of getting hurt than wonder "if" for the rest of my life.

Thanks Mike. I think I am going to send him an email tomorrow and take it from there. I'll let you know. I think I want to take the chance of getting hurt than wonder "if" for the rest of my life.

Yeah, being hurt is in the long run better than going through life wondering "what if" when it comes to pretty much anything.

Your mother is right in leaving the desision to you. You're an adult. Do what your heart tells you. Don't be afraid of being hurt. It's better than asking yourself "what if" for the rest of your life.

It looks to me you already know what it is you want to do. Go for it, with our blessing!

Your mother is right in leaving the desision to you. You're an adult. Do what your heart tells you. Don't be afraid of being hurt. It's better than asking yourself "what if" for the rest of your life.

It looks to me you already know what it is you want to do. Go for it, with our blessing!


That is good advice.

Wow, our little Kelly is going to be an adult soon. :lol: It makes me feel old.:lol:

That is good advice.

Wow, our little Kelly is going to be an adult soon. :lol: It makes me feel old.:lol:
I know! *sniff* I'm growing up! haha :)

Thanks for the advice Max. I'm going to go for it and I'll let everyone know. Hopefully I won't be hurt.

I know! *sniff* I'm growing up! haha :)


When you were born I was in the beginning of seventh grade. :eek: :lol: You were born two months after NBC showed the final episode of The Facts of Life. I remember they reaired the series fianle in August 1988. I remember because that two part episode and "The Apartment" were the only FOL episodes that I actually saw back in the 1980's.

When you were born I was in the beginning of seventh grade. :eek: :lol: You were born two months after NBC showed the final episode of The Facts of Life. I remember they reaired the series fianle in August 1988. I remember because that two part episode and "The Apartment" were the only FOL episodes that I actually saw back in the 1980's.

Wow that's cool trivia!

Jen, I don't know why but I always thought you were younger! :blush: So I was in shock when I read that haha. Always nice to have FOL friends tho. FOL ROCKS!:wave:

Just reading that makes me feel old. :lol: I was 10 in 1988. I'm not sure if I saw the FOL finale or not since I don't really remember watching it.

I actually watched it with my grandma. :lol: My grandma LOVED The Facts Of Life. I never really understoond how a woman born in 1921 could relate to four girls born in the late 1960's. :lol:

Wow that's cool trivia!

Jen, I don't know why but I always thought you were younger! :blush: So I was in shock when I read that haha. Always nice to have FOL friends tho. FOL ROCKS!:wave:

Next week I will see "Take My Finals, Please" and "Graduation" for the first time. :D

Next week I will see "Take My Finals, Please" and "Graduation" for the first time. :D
Awesome, both great episodes! Don't forget to look at the blooper!!

Awesome, both great episodes! Don't forget to look at the blooper!!

My favorite episode (of season four and the entire series) is still "Teacher's Pet". I think Nancy did a great job in that one. It is such a sad episode and she was simply terrific in it. I also really liked "Ain't Miss Beholden" and "Who's On First" from the fourth season.

Most people think I'm younger. :lol: I was born in October 1978.

I think that a big part of why so many people think that you are younger is because your old username was Jen1989. I think people thought you were actually born in 1989.

I think that a big part of why so many people think that you are younger is because your old username was Jen1989. I think people thought you were actually born in 1989.
Me being one of those

I think that a big part of why so many people think that you are younger is because your old username was Jen1989. I think people thought you were actually born in 1989.
I think that's EXACTLY why I thought you were around my age :lol:

That's probably why. When I was first at SO it was Jen1982, which probably made people think I was born then. Then when I changed it to Jen1989 that caused more confusion. So I think it helps that I got rid of the numbers in my username.

Wait until you turn 30. You really will wish you were born in 1989. :lol:

Yeah, being hurt is in the long run better than going through life wondering "what if" when it comes to pretty much anything.

I agree with you, Dax. Sounds like good advice. Good luck, Kelly, with your situation.

I agree with you, Dax. Sounds like good advice. Good luck, Kelly, with your situation.
Thank you! I just realized how this got REALLY off topic! :lol:

Thank you! I just realized how this got REALLY off topic! :lol:

Just a little bit. :lol:

Yeah, being hurt is in the long run better than going through life wondering "what if" when it comes to pretty much anything.
as a person speaking from the position of having a father that i have refused to talk to for... 15 years now, i think you should try to talk to him, IF you feel ready to.

I also think that you shouldn't expect too much from him; if he really did abandon your family 5 years ago, and hasn't really tried to make it up to you at ALL in that time - instead leaving it up to YOU to just forgive him because of your need for a father, then maybe he isn't a father worth having.

I don't know what you expect or want from him, but you'd better have it clear in your mind BEFORE you decide to contact him.

Thanks everyone! After two LONG days, I got a response from him! I am going to block out personal information but here's the jist of what I said and his response. What do you think?

Hi.

It's Kelly. (My sister) gave me your e-mail address, so I thought I'd say hello. How are you? I'm fine. I heard you were in (town) again. How long is this for? (My sister) also told me you were working at the (town) Ambulance Building. How is that going? Write me back anytime. Talk to you soon.

~Kelly
(^^^^I got so blocked once I started writing, thats why it sounds so pathetic lol)

Hiya Kelly....
I am thrilled to hear from you. Yes, I am back in (town). Mom and Aunt Judy got sick again earlier this summer and I moved back up here to care for them. They are doing better, but still a long way from being healthy. But I am working on it. So I plan to be staying here for the foreseeable future, probably quite a while: a long while..LOL
I am working for the ambulance for time time being to help pay the bills and give me the time to take care of them. They just added a fourth ambulance, a big change form when you used to go down there wen you were little. I would have answered sooned, but I worked an 18 hour shift over Labor Day and didn't see your mail until late Tuesday night.
(Your sister) has my home number (Aunt Judy had to change hers, so it is a different number) as well as my cell number. I am going to get a new cell phone in a few weeks, so then I will have a (area code) number on that as well. As I said to (your sister), any of you are more than welcome to call me, write me or e-mail me anytime you want to......
And I look forward to talking to you soon too...

Dad


Well, what do you think? It sounds like he wants to try! :)

:eat:

^^ Oh my god that face reminds me when I used to go to Disneyworld with my Dad, we'd go to Margaritaville, cause we're both registered Parrot Heads (Anyone who likes Jimmy Buffet knows what I mean) and we'd always order the Cheeseburger in Paradise. :D

And when I was little my favortie song was "Why Don't We Get Drunk" but of course I was too young to talk like that so I sang with him "Why Don't we Get Drunk...and play hopscotch!" Omg memories are flooding back.....Okay now I'm getting pathetic lol

Anyone?

I am sorry Kelly, I didn't see this thread earlier.

Quick advice, as I am sure you already know, DO IT. CONTACT HIM. It is never too late. Why wait til something bad happens and then do the "what if" game????? It can never hurt to try. I lost my mom when I was 6 years old. I would give anything to see her again, even for a day. You have an opportunity, don't give that up.

I am sorry Kelly, I didn't see this thread earlier.

Quick advice, as I am sure you already know, DO IT. CONTACT HIM. It is never too late. Why wait til something bad happens and then do the "what if" game????? It can never hurt to try. I lost my mom when I was 6 years old. I would give anything to see her again, even for a day. You have an opportunity, don't give that up.

Thanks Irene. I'm sorry about your Mom :( I did send my father an email and above is his response. Do you think he sounds sincere?

Thanks Irene. I'm sorry about your Mom :( I did send my father an email and above is his response. Do you think he sounds sincere?
To me he does. If he wanted nothing to do with you, he wouldn't have responded. PERIOD. I say give it a chance. What could be worse? You are so lucky to have this opportunity...open the door and your heart and give him and you peace of mind. Good luck and I hope all goes well with whatever you decide.

Well I saw my Dad a week ago tomorrow. It was really nice. His mother was too. She started crying. She has colon cancer and I guess she thought she'd never see us again. Me and my sister went. But it was really relieving. I'm glad I went. We're going to go have dinner just the two of us for my birthday. He's even getting me a present! He keeps using terms like "my daughter" it's so weird lol. Just a little update.:wave: Thanks everyone.

Well I saw my Dad a week ago tomorrow. It was really nice. His mother was too. She started crying. She has colon cancer and I guess she thought she'd never see us again. Me and my sister went. But it was really relieving. I'm glad I went. We're going to go have dinner just the two of us for my birthday. He's even getting me a present! He keeps using terms like "my daughter" it's so weird lol. Just a little update.:wave: Thanks everyone.


This is great news, Kelly. :)

I'm so glad it all worked out for you Kelly. :)

Your very lucky to have had the chance to see him again. My cousin Juliana, back from Brazil, she was the best cousin I ever had, died of cardiac arrest a week before I was going to fly and visit her before she went off to college in May 2001. She was only 17 and had a week heart, I didn't even get to say goodbye, I'm with you on this one Irene, I'd give anything to see her just one more time, because I only saw her 7 times out of my whole life, those times I was in Brazil.