Plaid for my Dad

I am Karianna of the Karianna Spectrum, a ClubMom blog dealing with autistic spectrum disorders; and of Kari’s Couch, a personal blog dealing with whatever is on my mind.

Looking for Jenn? She is hanging out on my (PLAID) couch! I am so happy to have had the time to visit Something to Say: About Life in the Netherlands.
Thank you to Jenn in Holland for allowing me to borrow her blog today!
Click here to check out the other exchange entries this month, and to get more info on the blog exchange.

When I was little, my dad wrote me little notes. I wrote him back. This was so I could practice reading and writing. He also gave me a couple sips of beer so that the mystery of what it might taste like would be gone. I had no urge to drink, except for that inopportune moment at age four or so when I popped open a Coors in front of a babysitter because I was thirsty. (My dad has subsequently graduated from Coors to much better brews, whew!)

He built me a customized dollhouse, even making little pieces of food for the refrigerator out of clay. He constructed a baby doll cradle with my name on it. He painted a rainbow on one side of my room.

When my dad moved from one law firm to another, I worried that something bad would happen to him. “What if they hired him to kill him the first day?” I wondered to my mom. Of course, that didn’t happen. Who knows about attorneys, right? But these were kind people for whom my dad worked for awhile.

Still, when he had his appendix taken out, I thought that rather than visiting him in the hospital, we were there to pick out a new daddy. But then when I went to the hospital for my various surgeries, I knew he’d be there when I woke up.

I started stealing his clothes early. He had some thin rubber galoshes that I loved placing over my own shoes. The texture was magnificent. And his leather-soled slipper-socks were so soft that I later got myself a pair of the same brand that actually fit.

During high school, I stole his sweaters on cold mornings. Sure, they were large, but bulky was in style those days! And then I stole a few off to college as well. I have about four or five in my closet right now.

When we moved into our current home, my dad re-upholstered an old sofa and piano bench. He sewed pillows to match and constructed a sitting area out of an old crib.

My dad has been very important in getting our house ready to sell, and I cannot thank him enough.

Of course, since we’re trying to stay out of the house to keep it clean, we’ve been hanging out at my parents’ house. It was rather chilly the other day, so I raided his closet. If anyone wonders where I got my affinity for plaid, they now know the answer!

Happy (Early) Father’s Day, Plaid-Dad!

You have done more than I can ever thank you for.