blog #2

I have several stories. However, one of  my favorite stories is of my parents and how they met.  My dad was from Bardstown, Kentucky and was located with Army Corp of Engineers to work on the reconstruction of Dover Dam. My mom was a bartender at “The Delphian”, which was a hotel and a lounge.  This was the “happening” place in the 1980”s. My dad stayed at the hotel while he was working.  I don’t think many people would brag about their parents meeting in a bar. However, since it was my mom’s place of employment it has a different context.

         

My mom didn’t notices my dad at first. He claims that he left several generous gratuities to my mother, trying to catch her eye.   Apparently, she was not fazed by this.  The reason my dad was attracted to my mother, besides that she was a gorgeous, was because she saw right through his southern, sweet talking ways. She didn’t fall for all his flirtatious attempts trying to desperately to win her attention. I have napkins of when he asked her out.  Yes, He asked her out on napkins.  Eventually, they started dating.  I have several pictures of this time and they look incredibly happy. 

          Needless to say, my mother did fall in love with him. I think he loved her as much as he was able to.  At this time, he had recently divorced and was on the rebound and struggling with alcoholism .He is now a self-proclaimed recovering alcoholic.

          My mother got pregnant with me and they had a long distance relationship during her whole pregnancy. On the day of my birth, my dad just happened to be coming into town.  He was there for my birth. My parent’s relationship ended shortly after, due to my dad’s alcoholism. My dad saw me but I never got to see him until I was sixteen years old.

          Five years later, my mom sends my dad adoptions papers and he signs without a fight.  I was adopted by my little sister’s father. He is all I ever knew growing up. When I was eight years old I found that my Step dad wasn’t my biological father. Of course, I didn’t understand what that meant at the time, I just knew it was different. I know understood why he favored my sister and why I annoyed him so much. I don’t think it was conscious but there was a definite a difference between his treatment of me verses his treatment of my sister. I always felt like I was my “mother’s daughter”.  

          Since I was eight, I longed to find my biological father.  When I was 16 years old I found my dad thanks to the Internet and “White Pages”.  I met him and he has been in my life ever since. He is a very successful, laid back and loving man.  I wouldn’t change the circumstances because it makes my story unique, broken, and real. Real is powerful and moving. Real inspires.  To this day, when I drive past Dover Dam my heart smiles because that is the whole reason I am here. A short unlikely romance but a great story.