They tell me I have to tell my life story...

My friends told me that we all had to make a blog and the first post had to be all about my life so instead of writing a lot I figured I would use my final narrative for my freshman English class...


“We’re calling to inform you…” I had heard that familiar voice before; it was Rosa Christians, my admissions counselor from John Brown University. A flood of negative thoughts filled my head. Was she calling to tell me I had been wait-listed or even worse, rejected? “You have been accepted into John Brown University!” My heart was racing. I pressed the flash button, knowing it would give me a dial tone faster than hanging up and picking up again. Dad was the first on my list. I had only known this man I call my father for just over a year, but yet he was first on my list to hear the good news.

It all started when I was twelve. I had walked home from school and got the mail like any other day. I set the stack of letter on the table and they scattered. I noticed that there was a letter from a Robert Lacey. Who was this man? He has my last name! I had never heard of such a man before, so I asked my sister. She told me he was my father. I thought I didn’t have a dad? Where did he come from? We had never talked about this man in my house before. Why is his name all of a sudden showing up on my table? I began to write him letters; I wrote and I wrote, they all started the same:

“Dear Dale, or should I call you dad, my name is Amber and I am your daughter.” Finally I wrote a letter that at the age of thirteen I considered good and sent it! Dad and I began to communicate through letters, cards, pictures, and once in a while there was a phone call. We had pretty limited conversation for the next three years.

The summer of 2006 I worked at Camp Cabot, an outdoor adventure camp for middle school aged children. I had just celebrated my sixteenth birthday. I was working and making money and I was legal to drive, all in the same summer! I really wanted to buy a car to be mobile, but I looked at my other options. I could save my money for college, spend it as fast as it came in, buy a car, or go visit dad. I thought back to all of the communication I had had with dad.

Did I really want to meet this man? He hasn’t been there for me all my life, but is this because I didn’t give him that chance? Now was his chance to be there and my chance to meet him. I picked up the phone trembling. I started dialing the calling card and hung up. No, I have to ask him if I can come stay with him! I have to! But I couldn’t seem to dial his number, so I e-mailed him.
Subject: Random Thought.
Dad,

I have been working all summer and have saved up money for a ticket… I want to come visit you, if that’s ok…. Please let me know as soon as possible.
Thanks,
Amber

Every thirty seconds for the next hour I checked my e-mail. Finally the subject line read “Re: Random Thought” What was he going to say? Did he want to be part of my life? Was this going to be a big disappointment? My stomach was in knots. After staring at the list of e-mails I opened it.

Hey Kiddo,
I would love to meet you! Just let me know when and where I can pick you up!
Love Always,
Dad

Good. I had dad convinced; now it was time to work on mom. I knew she wouldn’t be too keen on the idea. Levi, my older brother, had gone to ‘visit’ dad and stayed for almost a year.

I tried so hard to persuade her, “But mom, I’ve lived with you for sixteen year. Can’t I at least go meet dad? It’s only eighteen days.” After thinking on it for a few days, with me continually nagging her, she finally gave in. August 18, 2006 was the day! As the day approached so many emotions were rushing through my head: fear, happiness, apprehension and angst. Not only was I going to meet this man for the first time in my life, I was flying for the first time ever, but that was the least of my worries. What if all those horror stories Brooke told me were true? What if he really will try to cut my knee off if I tell him it hurts? What if I don’t like it? I’ll be stuck there.

Walking towards the baggage claim I saw a tall man in a cowboy hat, boots, and a hanker chief around his neck. I knew from the pictures I had seen that that was my dad. I walked towards him not really acknowledging where I was; I couldn’t help but to still be worried. What am I supposed to do? Do I call him dad, or Dale? Do I hug him, or shake his hand?

I waited sixteen years to meet this man I call dad. I gave up so much to go meet this man. I gave up a car, a college savings, and most recently, living close to my family. I came to John Brown University so that I could live closer to my dad; he was the only reason I had for coming here. I was in school for just over a month when he decided to move to Wyoming. I sacrificed so much for this man and then he leaves. I believe that God brought this man into my life for a reason. And although it seems like a hard way to learn, I think God has a plan for me and it involves me being at John Brown University for college. I am just too stubborn to realize this on my own so He had to use someone that He knew I would love and trust to get me here.