As a kid, my life was like a kid adventure movie. My parents always played the parts of1 actors in the movie, leaving me as the shining star.
My father could2 anything even if he was not a repairman, He always seemed to know exactly where he was going, and knew the most efficient3 to get there. I never heard him express any doubts. His air of4 made our home a safe place.
But since I became a father myself, I've come to5 that my dad must have had moments of confusion. It never showed, and we never talked about it. I also began to6 my father's efforts as he worked7 to provide for his family. Later I8 stories about his dreams—9 in the name of being a "father". Despite his talent in baseball, he gave up that10 career to become my dad. I began to understand the balancing act he faced: family vs. the dampened11 of his own soul. He12 his personal dream to go after what was considered a higher calling—that of giving his kid a(n)13 to follow his dreams.
Now I hope to give my kids the greatest gift my father gave me—warm, gentle14 of their childhood. No matter how difficult their lives may become later on, they'll always be able to take15 in those sweet memories.
