Comments on: My Father

By: Tom Lancaster

Tom Lancaster — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 02:35:00 +0000

Thank you, Sara, for this beautiful tribute to your father. He was
my very good friend in graduate school at Indiana University and
I kept up with him for many years after we graduated. He was one
of the most intelligent and talented people I have known, and I’m so sorry we fell out of touch. I would talk to him on the phone every once in a while for years and once, when you were a child
I visited with him and your family in San Francisco. I’m very happy
to hear of your success and would like to learn more about Wayne
in the years when we were no longer in touch. I would also like to know how to be in touch with
your mother, who was also our friend in graduate school. I have
thought of Wayne often over the years and just now googled and
found your posting. With warm regards, Tom Lancaster

By: Sara

Sara — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:05:49 +0000

@Jean Reagan, Thanks - I always feel like it would be a big fat lie to stand up in front of kids and omit that, you know? It's so much a part of who I am.

By: Sara

Sara — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:05:12 +0000

@Laurel, My dad was bi-polar, too...not uncommon with addiction. My dad's been gone four years on Thanksgiving...I think I soften a bit every year.

By: Becky Hall

Becky Hall — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:37:27 +0000

Sara, thank you for the reminder that alcoholism does not make up the total person. Whenever we try to sum up a life quickly and succinctly, we do a disservice.
I admire your understanding and love for your dad. It took me 25 years to get there with mine. I now figure he was too gentle and kind for this world. And some of my best qualities do come from him- much as I tried to deny that for a long time.

Thanks for your beautiful blog.

By: Jean Reagan

Jean Reagan — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:45:31 +0000

Sara,
Addiction creates such tragedies, doesn’t it? You’ve described its curse, but you’ve also captured your family’s love, hope, and joy. Too often our society simplistically and erroneously dismisses addicts as evil people. What an incredible journey you’ve shared with us. And I SO applaud you for reaching out to the kids in your audience who feel isolated and shamed.
Jean

By: Laurel

Laurel — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:24:25 +0000

A big thanks for sharing this piece of your journey navigating your relationship with your dad. It gives me hope that I’ll someday be able to more fully process all the facets of the mixed-up mess that was my bipolar father, gone six years this month.

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:15:52 +0000

Thank you for writing this.

By: ann cannon

ann cannon — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:57:30 +0000

Oh, Sara. Thank you for this.

By: kathleen duey

kathleen duey — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:04:04 +0000

What a beautiful portrait. Thank you.

By: Gordon

Gordon — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:45:15 +0000

Wow, Sara – That does far more justice to you and the man I had the chance to know. Well said.
XO