MileStone DAD

Every scrapped knee, he did not kiss. Several milestones, he surely missed. My dad wasn't around as much as he should have been. This is a story of millions of other Princesses and Pumkins, alike.

For a long time, I was mad, angry, down-right livid when I thought of all the dissapointments, heartbreaks and tears, my absentee father caused me. He continue's his road to fatherlessness of the year, fame and misfortune at a alarming rate. As a young lady, I could not comprehend or begin to understand forgiveness.

As a little girl, I adored my Daddy. To me he walked on water. He would say princess and my eyes would just light up. What little girl doesn't want to be called princess. 'Princess, dad would say, I'll be by on Saturday to pick you up. Just you and me, what do you think about that? I would be so excited, I could hardly sleep, you'd of thought Saturday was Christmas or my birthday.

The next day I would get up early, brush my teeth real good, soaked in the water until I look like a big, old raisin. I would get dressed and be ready all before 10a.m.. All day long my friends would be coming by asking if I was comin' outside today. I'd tell em', No!, My dad is comin' to get me today and I can't get dirty. Another friend would come and another and another. I didn't want Daddy to be mad at me for being dirty, when he came to pick up his princess. I was so afraid to dissappoint him, instead he was dissappointing me, big time. I would sit on the windowseal for so long, I would fall asleep. I would wake up the next morning and the first thing I would do was cry.

I've unfortunately too many stories, just like that one. For many years I carried a huge chip on my shoulder, when it came down to my Dad. Sometimes I would imagine "flippin' the script" or in laymans terms, give that fool a piece of my mind. Let him know what a horrible job he did as a father. Out of respect and love I keep my manners in check.

The thought of forgiving my dad just last year, I would have thought ludicrous. Then one day after 39 years of anger, the day came when I forgave my dad. I started to reflect on my positive memories with my dad and I found that my cup ran over. My first golden memorie goes back to 1973. My dad brought me a turqoise tricycle with glitter tassles that hung from white handlebars. I loved that tricycle so much. I was mad I outgrew it. Next suprise was the day I decided to take off my training wheels and wanted to ride like a big girl. Out of nowhere, Daddy showed up and took off my training wheels, he told me, "Pumkin, just keep your ass straight on the seat and you'll off before you know. I did just that and never looked back. I was so happy that day, I road all over New Haven that day, in 1977, free as a bird again, thank's again to dear old dad. 1980, I really wanted a ten-speed like all the other kids on the block. My mom could not afford such a bike and the only person I could think of was my dad, who I might say, was no where to be found. One day, when I came home from school there was a brand new bike waiting for me in my room. I screamed so loud ! ! !-you could've heard me for blocks. My middle school graduation was close and I was very excited about graduating from middle school and starting high school. A very critical time in a young women's life........, to me anyway. Two days before my graduation my baby sister, Candice got sick from eating to much cheese, true story, she blew up to the size of a Umpa Loompa. My mom had to stay withher at the hospital, I was so sad that I cried all night at the thought that my mother would not be there. On the day of graduation I got dressed up. My mom bought me new dress. It was so beautiful and I looked good and nobody could tell me any different. Just as I walked up to the school my father appeared with my new stepmother, Freda. I was so happy so see them, I almost started crying, but I was strong and graduated that day with honors. Afterward, Dad took me to a Friendly's Restuarant, it's was my first time goin' there, I instantly feel in love with the strawberry milkshake, til' this day- - -Strawberry is my favorite flavor.

It's 1982 and roller skating was the bomb. I was a pro, rollin' backwards, forewards, and sideways, just lovin' it. I begged my mother for some skates. Money was tight though because my little sister was just born the year before. One Saturday, while sitting on my stoop, bored out of my mind, my dad pulled up and had a suprise for me, the suprise was the most beautiful pair of roller skates I'd ever seen. The skates where made of white leather , with red shoe laces and had red glitter filled wheels. I was happy as a fly on you know what as I rolled away thanking my dad all the way down the street.

Sixteen year's old and feelin' myself, if you know what I mean. Had me a 19-year-old boyfriend, I went over his house everyday afterschool. My mother had about enough of me and call General Dad to the rescue. One day I was sitting on the front porch of the at the time boyfriend in my life. When out of nowhere, my father pulled up in his bangin' Cadillac and slowly approached me. He pulled me to the side and slowly say these exact words, "Pumpkin, you're worrying you mother, she don't where you are at after school and she don't like this ni##a who you been seeing. I'm goin' to tell you this one time, if I hear from your mother one more time about you seein' this guy, I will break every bone in your face and pay for it to be put back together', true statement. I said my goodbye's to the 19-year-old and went on my merry way. I later found out that the older dude had a serious disease I was fortunately save from. Dad to the rescue.

My official date of Graduation from Highschool was scheduled for June 19, 1988. I was not there, because I thought I had better things to do, like hangin' out with dumb chicks I thought were my friend and dudes only interested in one thing, with game galore. It wasn't until 1991 I decided to get off my ass and get my Highschool diploma. I didn't just want the GED. I went back to school and completed the necessary credits needed in order to graduate from my disctrict. I did just that and on my graduation day I got to wear my cap and gown and walk across the stage. Much to my suprise in the audience not only was my mother who I could never get to go anywhere in the audience, but my dad was there as well. I didn't know it at the time. As I walked across the stage and my name was announced, I heard a yelling and shouting from both sides of the auditorium. To the left was my mother, my boyfriend and his mother. To the right was my Dad, all my aunts and my uncles and at least 15 of my cousins', on the same day I graduated, my Aunt Mattie graduated too. Just when you least expect it, he shows up. That's my Dad and I love him, with all my heart.

We all have milestones in our lives. Remember all of them, the good and the bad. Each serves a purpose. For me the most important purpose is growth and forgiveness. Every little girl loves her daddy. Every princess deserves a Daddy Knight in loving armour.