The Passenger Seat: A Father's Day Post

[slideshow]

The above slideshow depicts various pictures from a recent trip my dad and younger sister, Sara, made to visit me (and James Taylor and Carole King) in Nashville. That week with my dad made me feel so adult: I chose the restaurants and activities, made reservations and suggested faster routes, I hosted for a few days and then dropped them off at the airport. But somehow despite the fact I’m 23 years old, have a job and an apartment, bills to pay, groceries to buy, a gym membership I try to make use of, whenever my dad comes to town, I am just his daughter again. This adult life I now lead relaxes. I stop worrying, hand the car keys over and while I may give directions, I ride in the passenger seat.

I take for granted this trust I have in my father. The comfort and safety he brings with a visit or even a phone call. I’m not sure about many things in my life right now–the twenty-somethings is a strange place to be–but how thankful I am to have a father who I never have to question will be a steady presence in my life.

In twenty years I may be in yet another state, settled into a career or a family, but when my dad comes to visit, I have no doubt I’ll hand him my car keys.

No Comments

  1. Amy on June 21, 2010 at 10:20 am

    Thank you – that is a beautiful post! What a great father-model you have your Heavenly Father! I’m at a different stage of life – mid thirties and it is quite a bit harder to always hand the proverbial keys to your husband but if you find a man like your father, you should have no trouble. Just keep praying for him and the heart to respect him as much as he will love you!

  2. Stephanie on June 21, 2010 at 10:31 am

    This post made me tear up…so sweet Andrea!! What a blessing to be able to say that!

  3. Jacklyn Johnston on June 21, 2010 at 11:46 am

    I thought about this a lot yesterday too. I am so lucky to have a dad like I do and the older I get the more I realize how much that has shaped me as a person. Great post!

  4. denalyn on June 21, 2010 at 11:56 am

    Your words give me misty eyes. what a precious tribute. I love you and can’t wait to see you on the boat:)

  5. ashleynashville3 on June 21, 2010 at 1:21 pm

    i love this! so much! i was sad i couldnt hang out with dear ole dad this weekend.

    I thank my lucky stars that I have the World’s Greatest Dad.

  6. jenna on June 21, 2010 at 1:56 pm

    sweet post. sweet pics. sweet dad. glad i can share him with you.

  7. Carolina on June 21, 2010 at 2:44 pm

    i loved the post! it seems you have inherited you father’s gift: writing!
    made me remember my dad! ♥

  8. Zi-Su on June 21, 2010 at 5:36 pm

    Thank you for the post. Your words are resounding in my heart. love the slide-show!

    • andrealucado on June 22, 2010 at 1:16 pm

      Thank you for making your presence known on my blog! 🙂 Glad the words resonated.

  9. Sara on June 21, 2010 at 7:32 pm

    So wonderfully conveyed. What a sweet gift to dad. Missing Nashville and you…wish I was flipping pancakes right now.

  10. Kingsly on June 21, 2010 at 11:37 pm

    Great write-up!! You reminded me of how much more we can Trust our Heavenly Father….Am handing over my “life’s Keys” to Him Once again…
    Thanks

  11. Larry on June 22, 2010 at 12:23 am

    Simply makes me wanna be a better Dad!

  12. Kathy Barr on August 11, 2010 at 8:53 pm

    You are so blessed! My father is a gay agnostic, dislikes Christians and is bipolar. When I became a Christian, he nearly wrote me off; when my husband became a minister, he came dangerously close to ending the father-daughter relationship. I’ll be seeing him for the first time in ten years in a couple of weeks. Most of his “gay” friends have left him now that he has physical problems. I hope to be able to show him the love of Christ. Please pray!
    P.S. I was in a writing class with you at ACU a few years ago, and it is great to see you using your ability to write!

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