Daddy's Little Girl

It’s my dad’s birthday today. Right now, he’s sunning himself in Jamaica with my mother (with my inheritance money)!

To his horror, mother’s decided to drag him 'kicking & screaming' to a beach-side barbecue event. I say to his horror because she’s taking him to do what she wants to do when he really wants to sit at home on his veranda; watching the world go by holding a large Wray & Nephew and coke in one hand and a big fat cigar in the other. Mother said he’s not allowed to drink due to his diabetes and he’s not allowed to smoke due to old age!

Mother must know after all these years that my dad's the King of making her believe he's doing what she wants him to do when he's not doing what she wants him to do at all.

When my dad wasn’t being a mega strict disciplinarian, we did things out of her line of vision that would have made my mother turn grey over night. He taught me how to blow cigarette rings, he also taught me how to do a big burp after gulping down Special Brew. We often had dancing sessions when he played his vinyl records which was real authentic reggae music.

Another thing we did without mother's knowledge was driving around to visit his friends. On the way home, he would do Coney Island style wheel spins in the car by driving fast and pulling up the hand-break so we'd spin around dangerously in his Ford Cortina!

In between the fun stuff, my dad didn't forget to teach me some valuable life lessons. He put me on a pedestal and made it very clear that I could be whatever I wanted to be and that I was a beautiful little girl who would grow up into a beautiful woman and to never let anyone tell me anything different.

Unfortunately for my mother, I ended up smoking Benson & Hedges, belching like a man, dancing like dancehall queen every time I hear reggae music and I drive like a maniac!

Thanks dad – you taught me well and I still believe that on my good days, I’m a beautiful human being.