When I was very young
When I was very young, I used to watch The Rockford Files with my father. I didn’t understand 99.9% of what was happening — like I said, I was very young — but I knew two things: 1) it had a fantastic theme song/opening sequence, and 2) it brought us closer.
My father is gone now. We last spoke about twenty years ago, and I think it was the right decision to cut ties. We may have had a handful of good memories, like watching The Rockford Files, but for the most part, we couldn’t stand each other. It took me a long time to come to terms with that.
He said what is probably the cruelest thing anyone has ever said to me: “You always wanted to be a writer, even though you don’t have any talent.” I spent decades proving him wrong, and I’m pleased to know I have, even though he’s beyond caring.
Sometimes, we need negatives to bring us our positives. While what he said hurt, it made me a better writer. I miss those simple times watching The Rockford Files, but I’d give up that memory for one more opportunity to demonstrate how incorrect he was.
But maybe that’s the wrong attitude. Perhaps I need to take comfort in knowing that I do have talent and I have been successful. After all, I don’t have his yardstick to measure myself by anymore.
I guess we’ll see how the next twenty years go.