A Daughter's Remembrance: The Gemstones of Our Years

MSNBC via WorldNetDaily.com ^ | Monday, June 7, 2004 | Patti Davis

[JohnHuang2]

June 14 issue - The house I grew up in had large plate-glass windows, which birds frequently crashed into headfirst. My father helped me assemble a bird hospital, consisting of a few shoe boxes, some old rags and tiny dishes for water and food. When I lost my first patient, when the tiny gray creature died in my hands without ever eating any of the Cheerios I'd provided for it, my father patiently explained to me that the bird was free now, flying happily through the blue breezes of heaven, where there are no hazards such as windows. I was locked into his eyes, locked into the story. My father was always more accessible when he was teaching his children through stories.

Thirty-five years later, I would walk beside him along the beach, after he had already begun slipping into the shadows of Alzheimer's. A dark thief, it steals portions of a person, leaves remnants behind. He looked up at a flock of seagulls soaring overhead and his eyes followed them, shining with something I couldn't decipher, but which I interpreted as longing.

The years between those two events were often war-torn, weighed down with sorrow—with words he found difficult to say and words I wish I'd never said.

My father was a shy man; he wasn't demonstrative with his children. His affection didn't announce itself with strong embraces of dramatic declaration. We had to interpret it. Like delicate calligraphy, it required patience and a keen eye, attributes I had to acquire. I was not born with them.

[latina4dubya]

i'm glad for both of them that this prodigal child (Patty Davis) returned home...

[Guenevere]

bttt

[speedy]

Beautifully written. I had no idea she could be so eloquent.

[ought-six]

"i'm glad for both of them that this prodigal child (Patty Davis) returned home..."

I agree. She had her rebellious streak, and no doubt embarrassed her father a time or two (didn't we all?). But, it is evident that they loved each other. I'm glad they had the chance to reconcile.