Day 03 - Your Parents In great Detail
My parents and I have always been close but in very different ways. They will both do anything for me, that's definitely a given. I have for the most part, connected with Dad interlectually speaking. We are both very technically-minded people so he would often sit and have long conversations with me about how things work etc. Mum on the other hand is more like my sister; she's a very visual person and of course my being blind, just can't identify with things she's into, eg. antiques, craft and decorating. -- She loves the English lifestyle shows on tV; she loves England; she loves all the old country cottages and has our family home looking very much like one from that time.
I do possess a lot of the physical traits from her and her side of the family. -- I also can talk to her about anything, to do with life, my love life, my fears, my dreams etc etc. So though we don't have a lot of interests in common, we still do connect in a lot of ways. We have our moments, but who doesn't?
Mum is from Nelson New Zealand and is the youngest of two brothers. Her late mother mostly brought them up on her own so it was pretty tough. Mum moved to Australia at about 22 years of age and boarded with a couple who are still family friends today. -- She met Dad at a dance not long after and it sounded to me like love at first site. -- Oh, she had a job in the city, and indeed she worked fulltime up until myself and sis were born, and then she became part-time so she could be there for us kids before and after school and on weekends.
Dad grew up in Melbourne, in Pasco Vale actually and has a sister and brother, one older, one younger than him. His Mother is the only grandparent I've ever known as Grandpa (Dad's dad) died when I was twelve-months old, Nan (Mum's Mum) died before i was born and her husband wasn't around much though I did meet him when we were on a family holiday to New Zealand in 94. -- mum had also taken myself and my sister over separately when we were babies but we of course don't remember that trip.
Dad's not a carpenter by trade but built the family home; It took about eight years as he was only working on it in his spare time from his other jobs and in the meantime, we were living in this 100-year old house which was pretty well had it but Dad made the back part livable. -- Dad is as handy as they come; he has always been able to make anything and fix anything that needs fixing.
I feel I was very lucky to have such strong supports when it came down to my blindness. They never stopped me from giving anything a go and would always be on my side during the tough times. Dad took it upon himself to learn braille so he could help me with my Maths homework during school. Mum was always there to run me to and from school (including Burwood) and my many doctors appointments.
We don't see eye to eye 100% of the time, but I do certainly have great parents, and I wouldn't change them for anyone.
Til Next time, RdFreak