monoceros blogsMy parents sent me a couple of video clips of Hammie, their hamster. It really is quite sweet, the way my parents have been caring for him and shooting videos. True, the videos are for my benefit, but thinking about them chasing after the little guy with a camera conjures up classic images of adoring parents. Hammie is now their little baby since their original ones are quite grown-up now.
Hammie, by the way, is now fat, furry, and fast! He's zipping around like nobody's business and my father has to prance around him to make sure he doesn't dash into the shrubbery and disappear.
Watching Hammie on-screen made me smile, but what gave me more joy was hearing my parents' voices and laughter in the background.
I got a card from my folks and brother a few days ago, and my dad wrote that he hoped I'd realize all my dreams. And I remember that if it weren't for them, I might still be back home living the safe life. My dad let me buy a book every week when I was a kid; he told me about art, music, and history; he sketched for me (acutally he did my art homework for me); he wrote out passages and let me read them; he told me I did right to go down different paths (applying for a Literature camp in New England, studying in Italy, becoming serious about writing); he bought me video games (although this had nothing to do with writing, it did provide me some respite from the hard work in college). And my mom let me try out all sorts of things (except sky-diving), never telling me that I had to focus on school only. Even if I could make a cool two million like my friend, Elizabeth, I don't think I'd ever be able to repay my parents. Parental love is lopsided. They give and give, but you never quite succeed in repaying that debt. And the thing is, they never expect you to.
As for my brother, he wrote on the card, "Too bad you're not here. We get a cake and feed some to Hammie on your behalf!" Smiley face included. What I'd give to see Hammie with a little party hat on his head!
Posted by Monoceros at September 15, 2004 10:19 PM
:C) you have a wonderful chance of realising your dreams!
You'll know parental love has no end when you have your own kids. We miss you... As for Hammie, he probably wonders where is the person who used to pick me up and play with me... We have a few more video clips to send = )
Posted by: irene at September 16, 2004 10:00 PM