Daddy's Angels (By Kathie Smith written in 2005)
“Charlie’s
Angels”, a popular TV show I loved to watch in the 70’s, focused on three
beautiful, big haired, adventuresome young women out to solve all sorts of
crimes. My Dad had three “angels” of his own to deal with during that same
time, and although not beautiful, and big haired, we certainly added adventure
to his life spelled A-N-I-E-X-T-Y.
My sisters
Sherri and Debbie and of course myself made up this dynamic trio. Being close
in age we were quite a handful for Dad to contend with during our teenage
years. Remember the 70’s? Oh my! Mini-skirts, love beads, marihuana, loud rock
concerts, flower power, sexual revolution, black-light posters, the Vietnam
war, birth control pills, long haired boys, rebellion to authority, terms like
“far out”, “dream on”, “can you dig it?” “Psychedelic” are just
a few of the “highlights” parents were challenged with. This is about the time Dad began taking blood
pressure, nerve, and sleeping pills. All quite justified. We were no longer his sweet, darling little “daddy’s
girls” who lived to serve him and please him. OH NO, those times were distant memories. By the time we hit 15, 16, and 17 we were all wanting to use the car, fighting
for the shared bathroom and the one stereo to blare our music through, not
wanting a curfew and refusing to obey it in any case. Lots of battles were
fought by all, lots of feelings hurt.
Gosh, now,
when the three of us reflect on that period we are overwhelmed with
embarrassment for the shameful things we did and the agony our precious Dad
endured (because he loved us). The good
news is that
He is precious, deeply loved, and forever in our hearts.
