In which my dad gets all gushy

When mum and dad were down a few weeks back, dad mentioned that his modem was dying and that he had to get a new one. Given that I still had my old modem hanging around, I gave him mine.

Of course, it didn't occur to either of us that the adaptor would have a different plug. So I had to post the adaptor to him the other day and he sent me an email (an event in itself since he usually just waits until I'm on the phone to tell me things rather than email me) when he received it.

Ladies, gentlemen and Gemineye, I present to you MB's dad - a man of many gushing words:

Hi

I received the adaptor this am. I will pay you the $7 when I come down in June I intend to book my fare today.

Love
Dad

I must point out that this is EXACTLY what he wrote. Nothing has been added or removed.

I love that after having been retired for 8 years (or so), he still writes like he's emailing a colleague. Except for the "Love Dad" bit, obvs. That would be just weird.

A bit about my dad since we are on the subject:

• I am his youngest child, but I maintain that I am the favourite (something he has never confirmed but nor has he ever disputed it!)

• He gets a stupidly proud look on his face when I go on a rant about politics. Mum sits there shaking her head at the two of us.

• You know those ads with Sam Neill in which he is expounding on the benefits of meat? The ones where he ends up dancing at the end? My dad dances like that. Except Sam Neill's dancing is much better. I do impersonations of him that makes my mum just about choke. I am also guilty of doing these at work for the amusement of others. Dad is aware of this. Mum has advised that when he was younger and drank things like gin, his dancing was much better when under the influence of said gin. And by "better" she means "worse". Man, I would love to have seen that.

• In the grand tradition of fathers everywhere, the funniest joke (to him) he will ever be able to tell is "pull my finger".

• He uses the word "cool" in an attempt to be "down with" and "hip to the lingo" of his children. He's 67. Admittedly, he does this with the full knowledge that it will make his daughters roll their eyes and want to rip their ears off.

• He is a closet Nirvana fan. I know this because many years ago, when Nirvana was the band of choice for any self-respecting teenager, I was on a trip with him to/from Brisbane and I was allowed full control of the stereo in the car. I put Nevermind on and dad told me to "turn it up". This from the man who finds music in the car a distraction unless it is something he likes or it is turned down low. I confronted him with this and he never denied it. I rest my case.

• When I went to my formal and he saw me in my dress (which in retrospect was a hideous creation but we won't go there), with my make up and new hairstyle, he announced in a very uncomfortable manner that I looked "very pretty." With my dad, this is the equivalent of an "Ohmygod you look positively gorgeous!!!!!!" gush.

• Speaking of, he collects James Bond stuff. A few years ago Titan started releasing JB graphic novels - basically collections of all the JB comic strips that appeared over the years. I presented him with the first one for either his birthday or father's day, I don't remember which. Anyway, his response was to flick through it and say, "Very nice." Now with dad this could mean, "Oh my god! I LOVE IT!!!!!" or it could mean, "Why the hell did you buy me this?" I was left in the dark until a couple of weeks later he asked when the next one was being published. This obviously meant that he loved it.

• He is tone deaf. This does not stop him from singing along to songs. Nor does the fact that he doesn't know the words stop him from singing along. Of course, the song* may end up sounding like this: "mmmmnar hnar fragmhne Diana mmmhnar". He then declares he is a "good" singer.

I love my dad.





* Diana - Paul Anka