Life has been life'n and I haven't been able to blog as much as I like. Adjusting is apart of life and it doesn't always fit within our schedule or in life to be honest. Nonetheless she persisted! So, here I am to catch you up on the latest adventures.
Pop Up Visit!
My dad has mastered the art of a good pop up visit. LOL. He usually gives himself away by calling when he has arrived and asking multiple questions. These questions often lead to me saying "Daddy I know you are here!" This time he asked what I had planned for the month. He knows I will travel at the drop of a dime because, why not!?!? I told him nothing, then the week he was coming he informed me he would be here, then I told him I was going to one of my bestie's surprise birthday party in South Carolina. In true daddy fashion he said, "well, the tickets are purchased! We'll be there and we'll work around your schedule." I said ok and I struggled with determining if I was going to the bestie's surprise birthday party or if I would stay in town for my dad and stepmother. My bestie is the bomb! She is so supportive of everyone and I truly wanted to be there because I can't think of a time I needed her and she did not come thru for the kid. But, then I thought about my pops and a conversation we had a couple of years ago.
Flashback
A couple of years ago I had a heart to heart with my pops. This heart to heart was different than any other conversations we've had over the years. Ultimately, I knew this conversation would make my dad sad and this was hard for me. My pops is the best father hands down.
There is literally NOTHING anyone could ever say that would make me believe otherwise. He's the G.O.A.T. Point. Blank. Period.
So, having this conversations was hard because I didn't want him to feel like he wasn't the greatest of all time. During the conversation, I shared how I wished that he would come visit more, I wished he was at more milestones when it came to my daughter and I , and I just wanted him to make the trip to us more. Now, this was something I struggled with for years because I didn't really know how to have this conversation. I felt like I knowing moved 12 hours away from home all those years ago (20 years) so how could I require or ask him or any other family member to make that journey to see me? Especially, when it was my choice to move all those hours away. For many years I drove 12 hours or I hopped on a plane to visit family because I felt like it was on me. After the conversation my pops did exactly what I wanted...he showed up more. He would randomly visit or secretly attend a gala where I was being honored. So, now being faced with the decision do I stay in town or go surprise my friend I decided to stay because my dad was doing what I asked of him a couple of years ago. I also knew my bestie would understand 100%.
A Midsummer's Night Dream, Top Golf, & The Cheerwine Festival
The weekend trip was jammed packed! Typically when my dad visit we end up chilling at the pool at whatever hotel he ends up staying at. We traditionally go out to eat and maybe one outing not too much. Often time I worry about how I will entertain him and my stepmom when they visit. LOL. Well, this weekend lended itself to tons of festivities.
The kid had her acting debut in A Midsummer's Night Dream. Opening night she had no clue that her pawpaw and Mrs. Renae were in town to see her. After 5 Acts, 1 intermission, tons of music, and trying to decipher what was going on in this modern day stage play with a twist, she saw them in the crowd and ran towards them with LOTS of excitement! She did a great job and was excited to perform the entire weekend. This was the 1st time my dad was able to see her in one of her school accomplishments so it was pretty dope.
The next day we took my pops and stepmom to Top Golf! What a time! This was their 1st time going to Top Golf and we had a time. My family is super competitive and we TRASH TALK ALL THE TIME! We do not discriminate, it does not matter how young or old you are, if you decide to play then you agree to accept and dish out any and every type of trash talking. The husbae doesn't really join in on the trash talking. Not typically until he is assured he is walking away with a victory and then it is minimal. LOL. My stepmom interjects her trash talking every now and again and it's usually done in support of my dad after he has started talking junk. The kid doesn't entertain it as her feelings generally get hurt the quickest. But, baby if she is winning or in the lead she dishes it something serious. The trash talking was real that one of the employees joined in and had a "HATER" sign created so we can pass it to each other. It was great time.
Following Top Golf we headed to the Cheerwine Festival. Listen the festival was PACKED! We didn't really purchase much as the lines were super long! We found a seat on concrete slab and the court house steps. Before we knew it was time for the Kid to leave for her second performance. The husbae and the in-laws went to the second showing. The parental stopped at the local store picked up folding chairs, drinks, snacks. I returned to the festival just to find them seated in the FRONT! Um, excuse me why are we this close to the stage!?!? LOL. They wanted good seats. The festival was long and not as eventful as I would like. The parenals seemed halfway pleased. The later it got the more the scene changed. Before we knew it, our seated section was consumed by younger folk standing all around and in front of us for the last act of the night. This was quite troublesome since the layout originally had seated folks on one side of the stage and standing fold on the other side of the stage. Well, all that seemed to change as the crowd started to shift. I was ready to go but my pops wanted to stay just for one song. The longer we stayed the more we waved people out the way from standing in front of us, the more the younger crowd started to gather. At this point we realized waving them off was pointless and we should just stand up.
All was well until it wasn't.
As we are standing, we begin packing up our area. We are folding chairs, putting fold away and start looking for the best way to exit. Suddenly, a young girl bumps into my stepmother and proceeded to join a group of friends in from of us. I politely explained to her she bumped into my stepmother and she could have and should have said excuse me. She apologized. Moments later another young lady falls into my stepmother and stumbles. But, this wasn't done intentionally, she was pushed my older drunk male. At this point we asked if she was ok and my dad starts interacting with the drunk male. He's trying to deescalate the situation, step in-between the drunk male and us. My stepmother's fight or flight kicked in and she is ordering us to take flight. My dad is still trying to ensure all is well, tensions are growing between he crowd and the drunk, I am pulling my dad so we can go. My stepmother already chucked the duces, the long lady said she was ok, I told her to be careful, and pops is still in-between the drunk and us. I continue to pull my dad because I truly don't want others to think he has anything to do with this and life is quite frankly too short and you don't know what people are capable of . Honestly, my stepmom and I were good so I felt he should have left immediately. But, pops being pops wanted to make sure the young lady was good and the drunk guy wasn't going to continue to engage with them. As we waded thru the crowd to go find the husbae and the kid, whose performance just ended, I notice the drunk leaving as well. We stayed a little longer before we turned it in for the night.
Church & Food Trucks
The final day consisted of church and food trucks! We enjoyed worship together, often times when I visit home I almost never get to go to church with them because I am usually headed out on a Sunday. So, it was nice for all of us to go to church together. Afterwards we headed to a local food truck festival. The food truck that I heard greatly about had already sold out when we arrived. The options that were left weren't necessarily the best. However, we were able to eat a meal, listen to music, and catch and talk about life. The freshly squeezed lemonade from one of the trucks were a delicious drink while we attempted to stay cool. Before we knew it, it was time to say our goodbyes as the parental needed to head back to the hotel because they were departing super super early in the morning. Surrounded by love made for a great Sunday and even greater weekend!
The weekend caused me to reflect and thank God for another opportunity to be around and with my dad. As we get older our relationship evolves and with growth are many lessons. Even though I'm grown there is still a little girl who adores her father's love and attention. I also love the fact that I can have honest and hard conversations and be respected as an adult in those moments and not just his child.
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