The Universal Dad.
My parents look almost like caricatures of themselves, or the sorts of parents you'd see in a hallmark card. My mom is sweet faced and plump, and always has hugs, freshly made treats, and huge amounts of compassion at the ready for anybody who needs them. My dad has giant eyeglasses and dresses formally (slacks and button down shirts) all the time, and can always be called on to do whatever is needed whenever a crisis arises. I'm very lucky to have them both in my life.

Over the years, my parents have taken in my friends (as well as friends of my siblings) as surrogate children. Most of my friends have unpleasant family lives, either with crazy ass parents or parents too busy to care for them. Mom and dad take them all under wing. Mom used to make giant lunches for me in school so I could give my friends (most of whom were sent off with half a bag of doritos) a decent meal. She's also held friends of mine as they've cried their eyes out over things in their lives. Dad has helped out everybody to no less a degree. He's argued with school boards, landlords, insurance companies, doctors' offices, and heaven knows how many other agencies to make sure my friends get everything they need when they need it. Their own fathers seem not to give a rat's ass.

This has resulted in three permanent additions to my family: two pseudo-older sisters, and my boyfriend. One sister came from a strict and controlling asian home where she was treated badly. The other came from a conservative christian home that threw her out for being a lesbian. That sister lived with us rent free for a year until she got a job and back on her feet. My boyfriend was raised by a (batshit crazy) single mom, and never had a dad. He's latched onto mine like a well intentioned lamprey. They do a lot of "father-son" things together, and it's really sweet to watch.

My parents are the Universal Parents, and my dad the Universal Dad, ready to take anyone in need into their hearts and lives. I don't think there's a couple like them left in the world, and I love them dearly.



As an addendum, this'll tell you pretty much all you need to know about my dad's personality.

Once, when my boyfriend and my dad were doing yard work, one of them managed to put an axe through a hornet nest. I think they were splitting fallen trees and hauling the lumber away. Anyhow, as you would expect, the hornets didn't take kindly to this and started stinging them relentlessly. My boyfriend ran, screaming obscenities that would've made the toughest sailor blush with embarrassment. What did my dad do? He shouted things like "Golly!" "Yeowch!!" and "Wow, that's painful! Holy mackerel!", and swatted the hornets away from my (still fleeing) boyfriend using his hat and gloves. Not even 25 hornet stings could make my dad curse or forget the pseudo-child at his side. It wasn't until after dad made sure my boyfriend was okay that he tended to his own wounds.
(Audienda, Mon 29 Nov 2010, 16:57, 4 replies)

Good story,
but you should play up the incest element, more.
( monster munch person, man, woman... camera... TV?, Mon 29 Nov 2010, 19:34, closed)

Your parents sound great
Can i have some ?
(womanwhocanonlylivewithdogs, Mon 29 Nov 2010, 20:06, closed)

Lovely parents. Lucky you! Clicky.

Mind you, reading the top story in your profile is a reminder to all that the grass isn't always greener...
( enoughblueskyforsailorstrousers, Tue 30 Nov 2010, 1:47, closed)

Sounds a bit like my dad
Cousin V has recently returned to Australia with her husband after 30 years teaching in universities in the USA and Sweden. Her brother told me a few years ago that some of V's university fees were paid by my parents, who were never exactly wealthy. But they had more on hand than her father, who drank most of his money. There have been other things much the same which I know less about.

Seems like a lot of stuff went on when I was a kid that I never heard anything about until years later.
(Redemption blamed it on the Bossa Nova since, Tue 30 Nov 2010, 9:07, closed)