Today is my (step)Dad's 60-something birthday. I suppose I could get the exact number by just asking him...something feels kind of rude about that, though.
He was only in his mid-to-late 20's when we first met; I was 6 yrs old. I'll never forget that day.....
You see, my 'Birth Father' was never in my life at all, save for a couple times he tried to come visit me (according to my mother). So, as a young child, I began to believe my Grampy was my dad, and I referred to him as such, without any correction from him or my Nana. My mother had dropped me off to stay with them for what seemed like a couple of years while she went and had a nervous breakdown. Oddly enough, I don't remember ever missing her. My Nana and Grampy took really good care of me; seeing as how they were in their 50's and had raised all their kids, you'd think they would've seemed very put-upon and inconvenienced. I was never exposed to that attitude from them in any way. I digress...
One morning, the phone rings and it's my mother...saying she's coming to get me for good and bringing 'your new daddy'. We were moving to Las Vegas, she told me. Okay....I'm 6, why do I care? My aunt Sharon took me up the road to get some ice cream, and as luck would have it, my mother and my 'new daddy' were in the same parking lot, getting gas for the long trip back to Vegas. I remember getting out of the car and giving my mom a hug. I turned to 'him' and said, "Hi, Daddy!", as if it was the most natural thing to say and not completely awkward. Again, I was only 6...there was no protocol in my world. He began to cry...
I call him "Daddy" today, although it took a long time to really feel that way about him. I have to admit, there have been many times I wished my 'real' father would suddenly become interested in finding me. There was no way my mother was going to let that happen. I know she had her reasons. I'm not saying they're good ones.
While I'd still like to meet him, I could never call him 'Daddy'. He hasn't earned it.
So, Happy Birthday, Daddy!! You know who you are...and I love you.
