Jackson Free Press

People say you can tell a lot about a person from looking into their eyes, but with my father it is his hands that reveal his history, his nature, his strength, and his elegance. I have always loved his hands. They are physically strong as well as strong in presence. The way he holds a pen to write a check or sign a work document with the cuff of the sleeve of his suit perfectly framing his lower palm as he sits at his desk at work is an image that is permanently etched in my mind. You can see hard work in their texture, knowledge in their expression, and class in the way they hold a martini.

I have hands like his, only feminine, but they retain all of the qualities about them that I love so much in my father's hands. They have strength enough to change tires and hammer nails but are gentle enough to wipe tears away when my son is crying. They have an air of sophistication but do not always boast with long nails or bright polish. They have strong veins that ripple as I type or play piano. The palms are well lined and would give a fortune teller hours of work. My son also has inherited these hands and I can't wait to watch them grow.

Our parents give us our first impression of a man and woman. As a young girl I believe his hands helped shape what would forever define masculinity for me as an adult. I have never been able to
date a man with weak hands. I have always needed to be with a man wtih hands I could not overpower with my own. My boyfriend Ray has hands that match my own in elegance, kindness, and expression. I love him for that. I know that when he meets my father and shakes his hand their will be no weakness shown from either of them and that makes me proud. When Ray hold my hand their is equality. I feel safe as his left hand rests over mine as we sleep. I love the way his hand settles heavily on the back of my neck as we walk through the parking lot of the grocery store and warms me more than the hot summer sun above us.

I hope Ray's children will see their father's hands the way I saw my father's and will remember them all their lives. That would be my father's day wish for him.

Also...

John Parker, who I wrote about for Men We Love, and I will be perofrming at Jubilee Jam on Saturday with The Arnold Lindsay Band. Not sure of which stage. Time is either at 3 or 4. Check the schedule and come see us!!!
I will be spending the rest of today shopping for a stylish outfit to wear in the smoldering Jackson heat, which will probably be even more suffocating on the stage.

Previous Comments

ID

113242

Comment

That's so sweet.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-06-14T16:43:42-06:00

ID

113243

Comment

My Dad hasn't really been around for years. My parents divorced after I left high school and he just sort of dissappeared. I don't even know why. He hasn't even known where I have been living. I have just now started doing some things to try to patch up our relationship. I can sympathize. It's a horrible empty feeling when you're child doesn't receive calls on his birthday from his Grandfather or doesn't even take initiative to find out if you are dead or alive. I just didn't want to write about anything negative on Father's Day..that's for honoring the good group of men that deserve to be called fathers, and even though my father has not done right by me by, I guess you could call it abandonment, I know he had it rough too, so I'm giving him one last benefit of the doubt and hoping he will want the same thing I do..a father/daughter relationship. I am trying to figure out where things went wrong in my family and it's really tough. I can understand your comments, Styrofoamboots. Holiday's are really difficult when everyone around you seems to have the family you crave.

Author

caroline

Date

2007-06-18T11:49:55-06:00

ID

113244

Comment

Okay, changing comment. That's so...bittersweet.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-06-18T16:29:32-06:00