Monika Blogwell

Today I thought I would post in honor of my dad. Fathers and daughters have a very special bond, and I count myself one of those lucky few who considers her father one of her closest friends.

The father-daughter bond starts to form in the early moments of a daughter’s life when she realizes–even in her most colicky moments–that she is being held by a person she can trust. Here is a person who will love her when she screams like a banshee and smells like baby poop.

It continues to grow as he teaches her things like sharing and how to ride a bike and why boys never call when they say they will and the meaning of life (that’s a tough one, but he always makes the answer seem so easy).

And the bond tightens with each winter he takes her sledding and each summer he shows her how to ride the waves.

It blossoms more as he shows her how to care for animals and how to appreciate nature (Dad always knows the best rocks under which to find the salamanders).

And Dad always loves her no matter what. Their bond doesn’t buckle from the pressure of her first dates with boys he doesn’t wholly approve of or from driving lessons where she nearly drives his car into a pole.

He stands beside her after graduations. He sits patiently through countless recitals (many of which involve the recorder, which isn’t even a real instrument). He wipes away her tears after break-ups and gives her hope that all men aren’t awful. He carries her over-abundant things during move after move (each one, he swears, will be the last he helps with). He tells her she’s beautiful even when she feels ugly. He listens to her fears and doubts and tells her to be positive and strong because he believes in her, and she should believe in herself, too.

And for that she is eternally grateful.

It’s easy to be afraid of alone. And self-reliance isn’t always one of my strong suits. When it comes to my own life, I can’t pick out anything without needing a second (or third or fourth) opinion. I suffer from a severe case of buyer’s remorse nearly every time I make a purchase. And if you haven’t already noticed, I’m back to the old blog background. (My dad, who’s my go-to guy for almost everything, hated the new look, so I, being the obliging daughter, changed it back. I may find a new look later.)

But sometimes alone can be a wonderful place. Lately I’ve been running with friends. My friend Dean provides me constant motivation on runs and never complains when I slow him down. And my new friend Marianne makes a thirty-minute jog seem like five thanks to our great conversations. Tonight, however, I ran solo through downtown Bryan.

I had a lot to think about and be thankful for during this alone time. First and foremost, I was thankful for my dad, who has had some health problems lately. I’m so far away from him and my mom here, but I’m learning more about standing on my own two feet in Texas (which ties back into that whole self-reliance thing I mentioned early).

I was also thankful that running through this town, I saw friendly faces that I recognized, people who waved to me as I passed. There’s something comforting about this place now. It took more than a year to feel settled here, and while I wouldn’t call it “home,” I can safely say Bryan/College Station has its charm. Some of the people I’ve met here are among the nicest, most genuine people I’ve ever known.

I saw this video not too long ago, and I think it’s pretty neat (and I really want her slippers). You may have already seen it, but if you haven’t, enjoy.

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In other news, my mom is so amazing. She emigrated here from Poland when she was 18, and occasionally (well, more than occasionally), she mixes up expressions. As we say in the south, bless her heart.

Today I was talking to her about how stressful things have been lately and she attempted to tell me in her own way that you have to make lemonade when life gives you lemons.

Instead she said: “Sometimes you get thrown towels, and you have to mop up the dirt.”

Another “Dorothy-ism” for the books. Just one of the many reasons that we love her.

I better go get mopping.