Apologies for the double post, but I just want to let this out right now.
My family lives pretty well. We have a nice house, a couple of cars, always have food on the table, etc. But we've tightened our belts as much as anyone else during the rough times, and unexpected circumstances hit us as hard as anyone else.
One of my dad's cars has been giving him trouble for a while now, and today he learned he might need to have it worked on. It's not something he can really afford right now, especially after he had to replace a car after a drunk driver rammed him from behind. (He got an old stick shift, so it wasn't super expensive, but still a decent chunk of change.)
He's been under stress lately. The car problems, work has been rough even though he busts his ass and he's been helping me learn to drive. He doesn't break down often, but he did today ... and it hurts to see him like that because he has done so much for me in my life.
My dad helped put me through college. He stuck by my side even though it took me a year to find a job. He has provided me with a good home, a good life and patience and love. I can never pay him back enough for what he has done for me.
He's a stubborn, proud guy, and he'd never ask me for help directly; however, I have $16K+ in the bank, all from my job. I would pay for any work that needs to be done in a second. Hell, I'd give him every cent I have if it was needed, without hesitation.
Thankfully, I was able to convince him to let me help him out over taking out a loan from the bank, or something. He's going to have my uncle look at the car, and if work needs to be done, I'm paying for it. I tried to convince him to just let me give him the money rather than thinking of it as a loan -- he's given me so much that this is really a drop in the bucket -- but again, he's too stubborn and proud.
What hurts most, though, is when he wonders what he has done to deserve this; why is he being punished? And I couldn't respond. What do you say to that? There's no easy answer, nothing that doesn't sound trite. But it felt terrible to be so silent while the greatest man I've ever known was hurting so bad.
But he knows he has my support. That's what family does. I don't think any less of him because he needs help, and I'm making damn sure he knows that.
