A Father’s Day post without a photo of my father (oops).

Sunday Graham and I had my family over for Father’s Day dinner. When I say “family” I mean most of my family, because as you know my Mom and Dad are not married. So my Mom was not there, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t my family.

“Awkward.”

Last summer was very different at our house. My Mom was living with us and she had recently completely severed communication with my Dad and Heather (my step-mom), and there was much animosity between them all, which meant that Dad and Heather didn’t come over at all last summer. We saw them at their house, instead. Divorce never gets easier for the kids. If anything, it gets more difficult because as children grow into adults, their sense of responsibility becomes more intense, and their need to keep the peace, smooth things over and protect the parents from one another becomes more important. These are the issues that drive people like me to therapy.

Anyway, we had a lovely time, and the rain managed to stay away from about 3:30 until 7:00, at which time the skies blackened, the winds whipped themselves up into a frenzy, and we all had to run for cover inside our little house which seemed instantly crowded with just 6 adults and two kids (and two cats) in there. On the upside, being forced indoors meant my Dad was drawn irresistibly toward the piano, and played John Lennon’s Imagine for us.

FOOD. I made scalloped potatoes, salad (the first lettuce harvest of the season) and asparagus, and Graham grilled Souvlaki-marinated pork and hot Italian sausages from Costco. That’s my dad’s arm, and the only actual photographic evidence he was there that day. Woops!

Graham and Jasmine play with Rudy. All little kids go INSANE over our cats. Jasmine is my step-brother’s daughter and her sister Jay is my step-brother’s step-daughter. I told you my family was complicated.

My brother Matt and his fiancee Karlie watch Jay and Jasmine playing soccer. I like this photo because they didn’t know I was taking it, and I could see real tenderness between them. Also because it looks like Jay is a little angel on Matt’s shoulder.

Farley takes off flying away from the recently scored and noisy soccer goal. Graham hammered posts into the lawn to create makeshift soccer goal posts.

Thanks, everyone for your awesome suggestions for Father’s Day gifts. In the end we got my Dad a gift certificate for Princess Auto, shopping mecca for car enthusiasts in these parts.

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