Judy Richter

Once upon a time, way back in the ‘50’s, there was a young, impressionable little girl who adored her father more than life itself. She was angelic in appearance, with golden curls and big blue eyes, and had a docile, obedient demeanor. Many of her parents’ friends often remarked about her resemblance to Shirley Temple, a child star at the time, which annoyed her mother to no end. Go figure. So, back to the story: this little girl, let’s call her Shirley, was beside herself with anticipation of spending Christmas Eve with her father—an unscheduled visitation without her two brothers tagging along. It didn’t get any better than that. Of course, her older brother was furious, not to mention green with envy. Even though she idolized her brother, her joy of having her father all to herself totally outweighed his resentment toward her, a lingering bitterness that lasted a lifetime. 

Shirley’s father picked her up that evening and drove her to his bachelor pad apartment—a far cry from their comfortable suburban home that her grandfather had bought for them. As her father fumbled with the key, trying to unlock the door, the door swung open. A disheveled woman wearing nothing but one of her father’s oversized shirts and a sensuous, come-hither smile appeared in the doorway. Talk about awkward. The mystery woman ran to the bedroom and exited a few minutes later, fully clothed. Wishing Shirley a Merry Christmas, she disappeared, leaving a fog of anxiety and uncertainty in her wake. Shirley’s father poured himself a tall glass of bourbon and turned on the TV. When her father finally passed out, he wrapped her in his arms in a suffocating bear hug and wept, all night long. The next morning, he awoke with a jolt and rushed her home, as per her mother’s strict instructions to deliver her before the family’s present-opening ritual at 7 am.  

And that was the last time Shirley ever saw or spoke to her father. Hard stop. Moral of the story? These Rockwellian holidays are especially tough on the abandoned and/or abused kids who never got to experience a parent’s unconditional, all-encompassing love. 

But hey, Happy Father’s Day.