Do I Rag On My Parents Too Much?

People who’ve read the book make the comment, “I can tell you had a distant relationship with your parents growing up.” The comment is legitimate. My real-life dealings with my dad and mom, into my 30’s, were far from warm and fuzzy, or supportive. The family stayed intact over the years, but it was dysfunctional. I was always sore about the lack of “real conversation” by my parents toward us eager kids, as it says on page 75. They were into routine and small-thinking. They never encouraged me about my plans or dreams, nor guided me nor shaped my seeking. They were as conventional as Eisenhower. They weren’t adventurers, nor achievers. They had no idea what I was about. They were plain and harmless as white bread (here I go again with the negative comments). However, Roger’s eyes are opened in Colorado on page 68 when the outdoors natural girl tempers his complaint by saying, “Even so, you responded by becoming a leader. So it all worked out anyway, didn’t it?” From there he eases off. And then there’s the reconciliation at the end of the book when Roger meets his parents along the beach road at the New Jersey Shore (a true story). So there’s hope for this generational situation yet.