An Open Letter to the Father I Never Knew

Summary

A woman pens an open letter to her estranged father, reflecting on the discovery of his identity, his death, her mixed emotions, and ultimate forgiveness.

Abstract

In an emotionally charged piece titled "An Open Letter to the Father I Never Knew," a woman, now a psychologist, delves into the past to address her late father. She reveals that until the age of 27, she did not know his name and struggled with the silence surrounding her paternity. Growing up, she inquired about her father but was met with evasion, leading her to cease her quest, only to later learn through an obituary and internet search that he resided in a nearby town. The discovery of both her father's recent death and the existence of a half-brother unsettles her, prompting introspection into shared familial history. Through her letter, she examines her father's lack of presence, considers his potential thoughts and regrets, and wonders about his knowledge of her life achievements. Despite this, she finds peace within herself, choosing to release any lingering resentments by forgiving her absentee father.

Opinions

The author carries mixed emotions about her deceased father, oscillating between indifference and speculation about his sentiments.
She reveals a sense of betrayal and confusion regarding her hidden family history, especially regarding her half-brother and her early living situation.
There's a clear tone of criticism towards the societal expectation of children reconciling with estranged parents, which she perceives as "distasteful."
She questions the ethical complexities of her unorthodox family dynamic and draws on psychological perspectives when considering her upbringing.
While acknowledging her own relief from not seeking reconnection, she also expresses disappointment in her father's inaction to find her.
She harbors some regret for not knowing her father, particularly their shared interest in animals, but does not dwell on it.
The author's act of forgiveness seems to be more about self-healing than about reconciling with her father's memory.

An Open Letter to the Father I Never Knew

No you can’t talk about it

And isn’t that a kind of madness

To be living by a code of silence

When you’ve really got a lot to say

- Billy Joel, Code of Silence

I heard you died last May. Well, that isn’t exactly true. I Googled you. I didn’t have a lot of hope in finding anything (and maybe I didn’t even really want to) given your surname is so common. But there it was. Your obituary.

I felt . . . nothing. I wonder what that says about me. I wonder what that says about you.

I didn’t know your name until I was 27 years old. Did you know that? I asked several times, but by the time I was 8 years old I got the message to stop asking loud and clear. So I stopped. And I got on with my life. And that whole time you lived just one town over.

I finally found out about you when mom decided she wanted to go looking for my brother. My brother? I was an only child! But no, at 27 I found out that you and she had a baby boy 9 years before you had me. I didn’t see that one coming. It shook me to my core.

I learned that I lived with you for the first 18 months of my life. You, mom, your wife and your six other kids. I’m a psychologist now. Do you have any idea what Freud would have said about that arrangement? I do. It’s not pretty. It’s a wonder no one suffocated me in my crib. What did you feel when we left? Sorrow? Relief?

Stalking wasn’t as easy back then as it is now, but did you follow my life? I was just one town over. Did you know I was valedictorian? Did you come to my graduation? Did you ever just drive by the house? Do you remember my birthday? The color of my eyes? My middle name?

I heard you owned a pet shop. I would have loved that. I love animals. I heard you had a chow-chow. They’re one of my favorite breeds.

There are a couple of pictures of you and your family in the photo album with my baby pictures. I can’t remember when I figured out who you must be. You’re handsome. You look a little James Dean-ish. I look like you around the nose and mouth. Your kids are there too. One boy — he looks to be about 12 — is holding me and smiling at me. Mom said he liked me.

I heard that after my mother found him, my brother knocked on your door one day and introduced himself. I heard you were surprised. That you always thought I would come around one day, but not him. I never would have done that. It’s not my style. What would I have said after, “Hi Dad”? The Oprah-esque reunions of long lost relatives are distasteful to me. I don’t regret not finding you. You were the adult all those years. Why didn’t you come find me?

P.S. I forgive you.