I went to college in 1987, moved out of my parents house. From that very day until today my father writes me a letter and mails it each week. In like 1982 my dad and I built a computer together we got in parts. We know how the Internet works.
An ode to dads and letters below the fold.
I am now 43. In the late 80s I wasn't much of a fan of my dad. Or my mother to be honest. I always had to work harder. I always had to do more, much more. The second I could go to college, the very second I ran away. The letters at that time started coming. You know in the mail. He might have written me a few thousand of them and I never responded. They just kept coming. Always in the mailbox.
I am not proud to admit this, but in my frat we would get these letter and mock them. Oh "Tommy got another letter" was not an unheard thing.
I went to grad school. Then working. They kept coming.
Nothing profound in them, just what he and my mother were doing.
My mom, who is the smartest person I know once said to me I didn't understand. I was asked why I didn't talk to them. Why we'd not see each other for years at a time. I mentioned I didn't think my father loved me. Well a lot of things.
She pointed out the letters.
Now in hindsight it is easy to see. But at the time I didn't like those letters. But I came to understand they were a labor of love.
I wanted him to say he loved me. Say this or that. But those letters were a more profound showing of his love. My mom. My dad. We are close now. I still get these letters. Funny thing, I don't know how to tell him how much they mean!