Sorry to be a bit of a downer, folks. This was a hard strip to write. I discarded seven other scripts, including a few lighthearted takes on the holiday. None of them seemed to fit. They felt fake. And, loathe though I am to air any of my dirty laundry in front of you lovely folks, I felt like this one needed to be said. Or drawn, rather.
I hope you all enjoy your holiday. I won’t necessarily enjoy Father’s Day, but I will do what I normally do, which is to call my grandpa and my uncle and thank them both for being a part of my life, and then try and ignore the urge to huck a remote at the screen every time I see one of those damned saccharine ads for Father’s Day on tv. Seriously. They all boil down to “Dad’s so funny. Look, he likes golf and napping!”. I do believe that I hate them even more than I hate the usual ream of sexist beer ads.
Rosy the Cat Says:
*hug*
— Rosy the Cat
Mythiene Says:
The worst trap to fall into with Father’s Day is to think you’re alone. I didn’t have two fathers, so I’m not in quite the same boat — but a similar one. My one and only father was twentyish, my mother nineteen; he used to beat her, until finally she got fed up and left. She later discovered she was pregnant, but attempts to hunt him down were never successful, even by the police. She keeps no pictures or videos and speaks no words of him; I have her maiden name and a short, sad story to tell but little else.
If you need somebody to talk to about Father’s Day and daddy issues, there’s always somebody out there. Always. (Yes, I’m volunteering.)
Marty Says:
I second the *hug*, Alina.
Dads can be such Dicks.
Kestralyn Says:
Yeah, a “fill-in-the-blank” Day can be hard when you’re not part of a Hallmark family. The great thing is that the role of dad can be filled by lots of people, not just the biological parent. I suspect that your grandpa and uncle are both sharing that role for you.
Thank you for sharing your heart with us.
ladylakira Says:
You get snuggles from me and my girl next we see you. (My girl adds, “Extra snuggles. With sprinkles… or maybe marshmallows. Marshmallows are more appropriate because I’ve got booooobs…. Are you writing everything I say?!”)
dolst Says:
Must…. not…. cry……
Seriously, big hug from a big lug down in Virginia. That was a very touching strip!
Tamarisk Says:
Well, grandfathers are just that grand “fathers.” I think you should take them both out to dinner if you can and not worry about how your family is not stereotypical.
Lee Says:
This might not be the right time to say this, but this is a really artistic strip, with the blackout outlines and stark highlights.
I’ve actually never met a dad who likes ties and golf… My dad likes anime and coins.
Gabriel Rotar Says:
aww pour thing :huggle:
Nziz Says:
Father’s Day used to be nothing special for me — until my dad died. Now it’s very Not Fun. This year it will be time to spend with Mom, and focus on good things instead. You have my sympathies!
Tim Says:
My dad died in April… so yeah, count me among the Father’s Day Sucks crowd. (PS Love both of your strips.)
Chino Says:
This is the most serious thing I’ve ever seen from you… It’s… I got nothing… I wish I could hug you, ’cause those always work.
Krystyna Says:
Oh. Believe me, you have my deepest sympathies. I haven’t seen my own father for a good several years now, and this holiday sometimes bothers me too. It’s lucky that you still had your grandfather (or as you call him – “Pop” :D) to turn to. I have never met either of mine. Please accept all the hugs and well-wishes you can carry
soilent Says:
At least noone but your hubbie or yourself try to repair your computer and finish it off for good.
Ooooh, the nightmares of burning CPUs and smoldering PCI cards….
THE HORROR.
Dudewise Says:
You and me are in the same boat. I’ve lost two dads in my life, one locked away and the other gave up on me. It really isn’t an easy thing to live with, having two father figures who want nothing to do with you. It seems the best thing we can do is just forget them and go on through life smiling for the friends and family we have left. What Mythiene said is true. We are never truly alone. There will always be someone who cares for you, no matter what happens.
Stephen Jack Says:
*hug* I can understand this. My father was pretty abusive, I’ve never felt inclined to send anything but a letter bomb on father’s day.
Murrday Says:
*Hugs!* I can surely keep you company on this one.
Absent Dads are one kind of painful. Present but abusive are another.
I stood at his coffin, took a good long look, and thought, “Now he can’t hurt me any more.” I think the fake-sweet ads are loathesome too. So I turn off the media, and spend the day remembering and honoring the good, nurturing men I’ve had the fortune to meet – they are the ones
who deserve the day, by being present in our lives in caring ways.
And may their tribe increase, those nurturing men! Here’s to them!
Slade Says:
Honour your Grandfather and Uncle, they appear to love you unconditionally and have given you the solid male role model that everyone should have.
angharad Says:
ditto the last. which is not to say that your pain is nothing, or any less, compared to anyone else’s; simply that – yeah. we can empathise. me, i struggle with a still present and abusive family. so i spent father’s day rejoicing in the wonderful future-parents-in-law my fiance is providing for me. it’s a beautiful thing. (oh, and i didn’t watch tv, either.)
Savion Says:
I”m sorry to hear that, Alina. It could not have been easy on you and the lasting hurt that they have left with you. But it’s NOT YOUR FAULT. Don’t ever think that!
I’m a dad- a single dad. My ex left us 22 years ago; my 3 daughters and one son never really got to know her all that well when they were growing up. In that time, I did my best; I could never abandon them like she did and we all grieved over that hurt but we stayed together.
At times it wasn’t easy. But I love my kids and they have gone their own ways. I can say that they have grown into fine young adults.
SnowyBrooke Says:
I found this strip extremely touching. My nephew’s father ran away to the army when he found out my 18 year old sister was pregnant. He came back a few times when he was around 2, but since then decided he wanted nothing to do with his son.
My nephew was recently talking to my mom about how he “Once had an army daddy, but he left.” It’s very sad that people walk away from responsibility and hurt the kids on the way out.
Barefootorbust Says:
It was still a poignant strip. It’s good know know I am not alone. I am still raw from filling out a form for a student loan, which required I list a next of kin…and I have none. It was an electronic form, and it wouldn’t let me go any further. So now apparently I have a next of kind called None None Noneness, who lives at my address. 😛
Happy Solstice!
Denaya Says:
I was there for a good chunk of my life, too. Now that my mom found a husband for herself I don’t know what to do.
Sir Eric Says:
I think the fact that you could appreciate what your grandfather and uncle did for you even after all you have been through with your own father shows great strength of character.
schmutzie Says:
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