Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2006 05:51:51 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Anna"
Subject: Well, now that's what I can an evening of excitement
To: Jamie, Ashley, Joe, Caryn, Bo, Jay
CC: Buzz, Jenny, Emlet, Susan
Well, I'm at work now and actually have things that
need to get done by that 9 am deadline (it's a 9 am
deadline Jay, can you believe it?)

Right, well, I just want to thank you all for being so
supportive last night. I momentarily lost a grasp on
reality seeing that as I thought my dad was dead, when
in all actuality he's been living in midtown Atlanta
this whole time.

I was hurt, shocked, strangely relieved, scared, etc
etc etc--a whole gamut of emotions was upon me when he
called. I spoke with all of you over text or actually
speaking (and then I CC'd some people on here, so,
yeah, you can figure out who you are)--and some were
angry along with me, some were mystified with me, some
were speechless. And that's great--because I was at
all times all of those things.

Then right before I was going to sleep I decided to
text dear ole Bo and tell him the happenings of the
night--normally, I wouldn't have because he's a recent
addition to my life (yes, I like to refer to friends
as my own personal accessories, hope that's ok) and he
doesn't know my Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll years and
trying to explain to someone that my dad showed up
after 4 years of being completely missing and absent
would have proven to be difficult. However, Bo and I
had a chance to speak a little bit frankly while at a
real classy birthday party on Saturday night--classy
as in we were able to talk between fireworks being
aimed at people, the neighbor's bushes catching on
fire, a fiery shot hitting the neighbors house, little
kids running around drunk people with incendiary
devices, completely and utterly drunk people thinking
they were Ladies of the Night and other such classy
party accoutrement. Right, well, Bo is a man that
puts family above all and I guess never really
understood the rift between my sisters and then when I
told him my dad had been missing for 4 years, he was
mystified (am I allowed to use mystified twice in one
email? Is that too creepy? Perhaps I'll use
befuddled.) Yes, he was befuddled.

Well, back to the point. I texted him that my dad
called and is apparently alive and well. He texted
back "Cooool!" My response was less than pleasant. I
don't have to directly quote myself here because,
well, this is my email and I can paint myself in
whatever light I choose :). His next response was,
"Yeah, but he's still your dad!"

I promptly called him and with a righteous indignation
tried to convey the many reasons I shouldn't and
wouldn't be excited or welcoming of the re-entrance of
my dad in my life. He was having none of it, and
perhaps in a tone I took as rude, he simply stated
that family is family and you can't live in the past.

My dad's back in my life now and there is absolutely
nothing that can be done to frost over the Bad Years.
I've found peace about All Of That, I've grown and
I've done nothing but grow closer to God and my
friends because of it. So, why try to reopen those
wounds? Why try to get answers out of a freshly turned
62-year-old man? He's my dad, Bo, you're right. I
would just be acting like a bitter, jaded teenager if
I refused his request to reappear. I would carry my
hurt and pain like a albatross, or perhaps a trophy,
showing how righteous I am--when in actuality, he's my
dad and as he said on the phone, his mom's dead, his
sister won't speak with him and neither will his uncle
(who's very close to his age.) I'm the only family
he's got. And if in his position, would I want to be
left alone by my only child? Unable to close the door
on the past and move on? Indeed I would not.

So by the grace of God I feel amazing this morning and
I'm ready to move forward. So, I'm thinking of getting
a big group together to go out to eat and invite my
dad. You're all invited. I think it'd be fun.

And a sincere apology goes out to my friend and pal
Buzz. He called last night in the middle of all
this and I didn't have the energy to talk or perhaps
even be friendly. So, Chris, I'm sorry, and I'll call
you tonight when I get off work.

Thanks again to all of you. You mean the world.

love, anna