Friday, December 19, 2014

You Only Need One

Last week, one of my brother's old friends stopped by to visit us and to give us our holiday candle - he's been giving us a Yankee candle each year for Xmas for as long as I can remember. It's tradition. He stayed and talked until way past our bedtimes. He clearly needed to talk.

This is someone who I've known for so long, he is family. It's not uncommon for him to go visit my mom and stay a few days, with or without my brother. He's definitely my favorite of all of my brother's friends. Which is why I'm so sad they don't talk anymore. My brother's version - "he wasn't here when I needed him." His version - "Your brother has to sort some sh*t out and no one can do that but him. Plus, I have my own drama. I don't need more." I get it. Both sides, I get.

Part of J's drama is that his own little brother just had a baby. With a baby mama that J doesn't like or trust. He's angry at his brother. He's wary of the mom. He's worried sick about the baby. I asked him why and he confessed that baby mama actually IS a pretty good baby mama and from what he can see, is doing a nice job raising their son. But J is still concerned that this little one have a stable and positive influence in his life. I told J, that's his role. Be the one. Because it only takes one.

I told J that my theory is we really only need one unconditionally loving and affirming presence in our lives, and if we have that, everything else will sort itself out. For me, it was my grandfather.

My parents loved us. As much as they could. But wow, did they fight. A lot. All the time. Loudly. They loved us; they didn't much care for each other. And that was hard to come home to every day. When my grandfather came to visit, I would jump in his truck and wait for him to take me home with him. And he usually did. Sometimes for days. And we'd have adventures. Up to his cabin that he built himself. Out to the lake to go fishing, or just stare at the water. Over to his friend's house to pick walnuts. Down to the stream to catch spring water as it dripped through the rocks.

My GiGi. He was the one. And I started to tear up telling J. He's gone now, and gosh I miss him. I told J, he needs to be the one. And he nodded.

Tell me, who is your one?


5 comments:

Lollipop Goldstein said...

I love this twist on the phrase "you only need one." I thought this was going to be a much different post :-)

m said...

Ah! I can see that! Esp in juxtaposition to my previous post. So, lolli, who is your One?

Lori Lavender Luz said...

I'm lucky. I have two -- both Mom and Dad. And also my sisters.

Thanks for a post that's made me think -- and feel gratitude.

nicoleciomek said...

Beautiful. This brought tears to my eyes... I didn't have a consistent "one", which definitely made my teen years interesting. It started out as my mom, moved to my dad, and then my track coach. But you are right, you really do just need one.

Carla said...

My dad. He was the sober, reasonable one growing up. I am incredibly grateful he stayed with my alcoholic mom till we were in college. My life would have been very different without his constant presence. He also instilled a love of learning and a wonder of science that I hold to this day. I have my dad's brain, for sure and his nurturing influence cemented me into the person I am today. :)

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