The Moment I Knew How Much My Dad Loves My Mom

I was in Atlanta, on the phone with my Mom who was in Florida. She had thrown her back out and was lying on her bed, barely able to move. On top of that, she was having hot flashes.

“I’m so hot! Daddy tied this long string to the fan so I could reach it and turn it on,” she said.

“Are you turning it on now?”

“Yes…”

Mom continued to chat, but eventually grew even more uncomfortable and paused to take off all her clothes.

“I have to take them off, I’m so hot!”

I imagined my Mom, lying there naked on the bed, barely able to move and felt sad. I wished I could do more, but talking was enough.

Suddenly, my mom began laughing hysterically.

“What, what is it?” I said.

“Your father. He just walked in the room, saw me, and walked right back out.”

“Oh…” my voice trailed off. I don’t know why my Mom thought this was funny. It just made me more sad — the thought that my mom’s body, which once turned my father on, was now something he turned around and ran away from — just depressed me even further.

“That’s kind of sad, Mom,” I said.

“Noooo, it’s hysterical!”

We talked some more, when suddenly my Mom began laughing even harder and louder than before.

“What is it Mom?!”

“Your father. He just came back in the room, and now he has a camera.”