Living Proof

Of course I have to start off by saying, "by all due respect", but perhaps that would be a bit too formal. It's not that I don't have respect, because I have a ton of it -- possibly too much of it. Dad. I loved him. I still love him. It wasn't until my mid-thirties when he stopped me at the door from leaving, and then said for the very first time, "Hey, I love you, Deb." I was absolutely dumbfounded, not because he said "I love you", but because he hadn't said those words that meant so much to me my entire life. He wasn't a bad father - he was a great dad who always encouraged me and told me I was the best at what I did. He always said I should be doing something more profound with my life -- like become a famous movie star or cartoonist making millions. But, here I am, as my friend would put it, "small potatoes" living my life the best I can. His words still linger: "Ya' gonna be famous kid! Ya' too talented, I...