muted

wupid

one of my oldest memories is of walking into the kitchen in the middle of an argument that my parents were having. i'm not sure how old i was or why i went to the kitchen on this particular occasion. the specifics of the argument also escape me. what i do remember quite vividly, though, is my dad asking me to make a funny face so that my mom would smile. i contorted my mug as best as i could and my mom not only smiled, she laughed too.

judging by the above photo, my dad was a smart, sly fellow.

my dad's nickname for me was "wupid" which was short for "stupid wupid." he meant it lovingly, though, because he didn't say it only when he was mad at me. he used it all the time, really. even when i'd come home for a visit after moving out, he'd greet me with a smile and a "heeeeey, wupid!"

our relationship was quite strained for a good portion of my teens and twenties for reasons that i won't get into here. but we're in a better place now. i guess it's that whole absence doing funky things to the heart deal.