You might think your parents are ok and I am sure they are, but mine are the best!

I am sitting here debating whether or not to have birthday cake or a roast beef sandwich for breakfast. I am so torn. So far I have had nothing because I can’t decided what I want to have. And yes, it’s just after 8:30 in the morning, so?

We went over to my parents’ place for my birthday dinner last night. There was roast and cake and it was scrumptious! I have a ton of leftovers and I am so happy! I am also happy that my parents are wonderful and fun and that I finally (after all those teen years and whatnot) enjoy spending time with them. Heh.

My Dad and I are closer now that I am older than when I was well, younger. I was (and actually still am ) a Mummy’s Girl. My Dad would take me on Nowhere Rides when I was smaller, in our little Datsun something or other car we called the Putt-Putt. We’d get in the car and my dad would just drive and drive and I would ask where we were going and he’d say “Nowhere. We’ll let the car decide.” I loved those rides. We’d end up in magical places like newly discovered playgrounds (that I now know were like, one town over and only a few minutes away, but we would drive for so long it felt like we’d ended up someplace far away and magical!) and one of my favourite places to end up were the locks by the Victoria Bridge to watch all the big ships come passing through (I now drive over this bridge on a daily basis to get to and from work and I still get excited when the ships are there, except of course when they stop traffic because we have to be routed to the other side of the locks to pass…). My Dad went on a handful of business trips when I was a kid and it was always exciting when he came back and my sister and I would get gifts (ha!). The one I remember most was a Strawberry Shortcake cat stuffed animal. My sister got the dog. I loved that kitty, it smelled so good! My Dad introduced me to music and computers and BBSing and church choir. I always loved singing with him. My Dad has always been there to bail me out when I was in trouble (not in jail, not that kind of bail.. I have never been in jail!). He’s always been supportive and tough when he needed to be. He’s always had good advice and not so good advice . I love him very much and I am glad that out of all the Dads in this world I ended up with him.

My Mummy has always been my original BFF. When I had trouble with friends as a kid, my Mum was always there to hold my hand, give me a hug and let me vent my frustrations out at her. I took a lot out on the poor woman, and though it really did help in the long run, I feel bad for having put her through as much as I did. Having a daughter who was always sad, depressed, picked on and sick isn’t easy. But she was always there for me. A constant. Someone I could always count on. I always told my mother everything, I have never kept secrets from her (not for long anyhow ). She’s been my sounding board and my emotional mirror and one of the most influential people in my life. I love my Mummy more and more each day.

It took a while for me to appreciate my parents as much as I do now. I always loved them and cherished them, but once I hit my early 20s the stress and anxiety levels in the house were WAAAAY up there. It’s always hard with parents and kids when the kids start to make their own decisions and mistakes and branch out on their own. It took me a few years of living on my own before I wanted to visit them before I wanted to talk to my mother on more than a 2-month or so basis. Having moved to where I moved last April wouldn’t have even been a blip on my mind 10 years ago. I needed water between me and them, sort of like a moat.

Now? Now I am thrilled to be living closer so that I can see them more regularly. My mum and I talk on the phone at least twice a week most weeks and I want that. I enjoy that.

My parents never outright spoiled me, but they did spoil me. I was spoiled with love and support (even when it was hard) and I was spoiled by little things – home cooked meals, vacations, my mother staying home with her two girls until we were in high school.

They taught me to be honest and polite. To be modest and caring. They taught me to think for myself and to trust in myself. The core of who I am today is because of the morals and values they instilled in me. They are kind and loving.

And I love them for that. I thank them for that.

I think I turned out kinda ok.

* this was started Saturday morning at 8:30 am, though life sort of got in the way and I had to work all of Sunday, therefore it’s only being posted at 9:45 pm Sunday night.