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Dad came over for dinner last weekend. A nice evening. I told him about this blog. First reaction, surprised that I had diaries (Dad is good at forgetting such things) and second..."Why would you do that? Doesn't that fly in the face of what diaries are all about?". "Are you mad?" written all over his face. I proceeded to read him the last few entries starting with me wanting to go to a Party. He grimaced, squirmed and rattled off "I'm sorry"s. My Father has always felt the need to apologise for the latter years of our up-bringing. Why is beyond me and no amount of reassurance that I can think of anything to regret has ever made a difference. He was a great Father, our only parent since I was 14. We reminisced further. He has clear memories of feeling powerless, particularly where I was concerned. I was stubborn! He also remembers feeling like some mothers were trying to "win" me away and he had to battle to keep me. I don't have memories of the latter, nor can I imagine there was ever any chance. I have a loyalty to my Father which runs very deep and even back then, amidst the fights and battles of wills...he was always my hero. I don't believe he will ever realise just how much.
Question: How accurate do you believe your recollections of your youth to be? Despite my perceptions of my teens, re-living them through my diary has definitely opened my eyes to events, thoughts and feelings I had forgotten or altered.
