I grew up believing my dad was Superman. No, scratch that. I grew up believing my dad was superman, batman, and spiderman combined. I honestly believe there was no greater dad elsewhere. Even now.
When I first fell in love with tennis and nobody would play with me, my dad would spend his lunchbreak with me hitting balls when the sun was at its hottest. He would quickly finish his lunch while I stand behind him waiting, clutching our rackets and off we would go to the tennis court and play. When I turned 16, he gave a rebellious youngster like me the best present a father could give. An empty house and a case of beer so I can invite my friends and discover what its really like to drink alcohol without fear of getting discovered and scolded. Some folks might frown on this but to a kid who’s in a hurry to grow and taste the adult world, a gesture like that spoke volumes about love, trust, and understanding.
But before I continue, no, my dad is not dead, nor is he lost. I’m just feeling uneasy because earlier tonight he got admitted to a hospital.
With my mother’s passing, papi is the only parent I have left and even the slightest hint of a cold or a cough sends chills down my spine. It’s kinda heartbreaking to see one of the most important people in your life go into a hospital room even if it’s only for a mild case of stomach flu. Once you’ve experienced a loved one go inside a room and leave without a pulse, things kinda take a more circuitous and nerve-wracking route. Everytime another loved one is admitted to a hospital, you can’t help but feel a little anxious.
Papi at his age, is now feeling the ravages of time. He is old, and where before he can easily shrug off any ailment he feels with a puff of his favorite cigarette or a hearty laugh, these days he has to see a doctor. And everytime he sees a doctor, my heart skips a beat. He may still be superman, batman, and spiderman all rolled into one, but there’s no denying that he’s mortal, and one day, he will have to kick the bucket like the rest of us.
Gad, even then, that thought is almost unbearable.