Thanks, Frank; I, too, wondered if my father’s bad example became the model of what I didn’t want to be. And, exactly as you say, I’ve wondered if the life I enjoyed was partially because of his bad example. I wish I’d had the courage to engage my father as an adult as you did. I think why I didn’t have that courage is something I should address in a post.

He was also a pedophile, but at 6 years of age I didn’t have a word for it. I realized years later that he was a closeted bisexual.

He was my model of what I didn’t want to to be.

I cut off all contact when I left for college, but decades later, realizing what a tormented life he had led, I resumed contact and we talked about everything.

He had no memory of molesting me, but said that “it could have happened.”

I wonder sometimes if I would have enjoyed such a good life if I hadn’t had the benefit of my dad’s bad example.

Thanks, Don, gotta love that 50s cuisine!

I was also forced to eat it. I found if I didn’t chew it and just swallowed it whole I could clean my plate and leave the table.

We also had cottage cheese and peaches. Peaches were good but I didn’t care for cottage cheese.

Good story!

Well, spoiled you are not! That’s for sure. Thanks for your note, Jim