Out of the Mouths of Babes

The 17th was not only my tenth anniversary, but it also would have been my Dad's 57th birthday. Getting married on my Dad's birthday was a total fluke. When we called to book the hall the only Saturdays available for a "fall wedding" were the long weekend in August, the long weekend in Spetember or the 17th. So the 17th it was. I was decidedly blase at the time about getting married on my Dad's birthday because that's how I handled all things involving my Dad back then. It wasn't a big deal and yet it was. I probably made it into a bigger deal by pretending it wasn't any kind of a deal at all. You can call it a fluke or destiny or divine intervention. The truth of the matter is I'm glad it worked out that way.

Now if you're unlucky enough to have had a parent pass away before you have children of your own you have to assume that a "Mommy where's your Daddy?" conversation will eventually rear it's ugly head. Now raise your hand if you would be shocked if that conversation happened the day of your 10th anniversary/deceased father's birthday?

Yeah me too.

So we were headed down to the cactus festival parade Thursday night with the girls strapped in their car seats. We also had Nikki and Breanne in the back row of the van. They would be the "middle ones", I guess. by Abby's estimation. And out of left field comes this.....

Abby: Mom, who's your Daddy?
Me: Mommy doesn't have a Daddy honey.
Abby: But who's your Daddy?
Me: Well when Mommy was a little girl like you she had a Daddy, but she doesn't have one anymore.
Abby: Why?
Me: Well Mommy's Daddy died.
Abby: Why?
Me: Well sometimes that happens.
Now at this point I'm trying to keep from crying so I don't freak out, not only my own children, but my best friend's children as well.
Abby: Well my Daddy is dead too.
Me: StartledReally?
Abby: Yeah my Daddy is dead, not Mike. Mike's not dead, just my Daddy.
Mike:Who previous to this has been sitting quietly offering nothing to the conversation So maybe a DNA test is not a bad idea.