A Journal Through My Activities, Thoughts, and Notes
偶然地我在 Quora 读到下面这个答案， 在读这个故事的过程中，我能听到我的心砰砰跳。#人生故事
### Did you take your parents for granted? What made you realize that?
Nancy Olson posted this answer 4 years ago. She is M. Ed from University of North Dakota.
When I was eight years old my dad retired from his job at the ship yard, and we moved from Lomita, CA to a small place called Woodys in the middle of the desert. I didn't understand why we had to leave my brother and sisters, my nieces and nephews. I didn't understand why we went from a two bedroom trailer for the four of us to a cramped camping trailer, where my brother slept on the floor, and I slept on a table converted into a bed each night.
Suddenly my twelve year old brother watched me all the time. My parents were always saying, “we will be out of town all day. Make sure you go to school and do your homework. We will be back late.”
There was nothing to do! We had one small TV that got two channels, 2 and 4, both with lots of snow. Outside was the desert as far as we could see in one direction. In another a two way road. The third held a view of Woody’s house and several outbuildings. The last a duck pond with a footbridge over it. We were forbidden to go to the road, the house, the pond. We had to stay in sight of the trailer if we went in the desert -- and it was just sand, cactus and creosote bushes.
Then summer came and suddenly both Henry and I had no school to go to during the day. The little trailer had no swamp cooler and was made of metal. The heat was too oppressive to stay in the trailer during the day, so Henry and I spent our time in the meager shade the trailer afforded, filling a gallon jug in the little sink and pouring it over our heads to stay cool. At night we all sweated in the small space, windows and door open to catch the lightest gust of breeze.
I often had a hard time sleeping in the heat. I had learned to lay still and be quiet. My parents would often talk or watch TV after they thought we were asleep. It was to my benefit to be seen but not heard.
One night I heard my mom crying. I was scared. My mom never cried. Then I heard my dad say, “now Susan, it will be ok.”
“It won’t be ok Oscar. I can't do this without you.”
Wait what does mom mean? Do what without Dad? Where is Dad going? But they are always together.
“I have at least six months, and I promise you I'll get you in a house and settled. You'll have social security. Terry will help you when he can. It will be ok.” My dad sounded desperate and sad.
Six months? Where is my dad going in six months? I need my dad. He can't go anywhere!
“Survivor benefits are less Oscar, and we've always been a team. I'm scared.”
Me too mom. I'm scared now too.
“I know honey, but I'm here now. I'll fight as long as I can, I promise.”
The next day I asked Henry if he had heard them talking. I told him I was scared.
“Nancy! You know better than to listen to other people's conversations. What did they say?”
I repeated what i had heard. I expected Henry to freak out, but he just sighed.
“So now you know. Dad is dying. They gave him six months, but he is in a drug trial. They think he may have up to five years.”
Five years? My dad will be dead in six months to five years? He can't die. I need him!
I was eight years old when I learned I had taken my dad for granted. I learned that day that no one lives forever, not even moms and dads -- and I vowed I would never take my dad for granted again.
原文地址 <https://www.quora.com/Did-you-take-your-parents-for-granted-What-made-you-realize-that>
### Did you take your parents for granted? What made you realize that?
Nancy Olson posted this answer 4 years ago. She is M. Ed from University of North Dakota.
When I was eight years old my dad retired from his job at the ship yard, and we moved from Lomita, CA to a small place called Woodys in the middle of the desert. I didn't understand why we had to leave my brother and sisters, my nieces and nephews. I didn't understand why we went from a two bedroom trailer for the four of us to a cramped camping trailer, where my brother slept on the floor, and I slept on a table converted into a bed each night.
Suddenly my twelve year old brother watched me all the time. My parents were always saying, “we will be out of town all day. Make sure you go to school and do your homework. We will be back late.”
There was nothing to do! We had one small TV that got two channels, 2 and 4, both with lots of snow. Outside was the desert as far as we could see in one direction. In another a two way road. The third held a view of Woody’s house and several outbuildings. The last a duck pond with a footbridge over it. We were forbidden to go to the road, the house, the pond. We had to stay in sight of the trailer if we went in the desert -- and it was just sand, cactus and creosote bushes.
Then summer came and suddenly both Henry and I had no school to go to during the day. The little trailer had no swamp cooler and was made of metal. The heat was too oppressive to stay in the trailer during the day, so Henry and I spent our time in the meager shade the trailer afforded, filling a gallon jug in the little sink and pouring it over our heads to stay cool. At night we all sweated in the small space, windows and door open to catch the lightest gust of breeze.
I often had a hard time sleeping in the heat. I had learned to lay still and be quiet. My parents would often talk or watch TV after they thought we were asleep. It was to my benefit to be seen but not heard.
One night I heard my mom crying. I was scared. My mom never cried. Then I heard my dad say, “now Susan, it will be ok.”
“It won’t be ok Oscar. I can't do this without you.”
Wait what does mom mean? Do what without Dad? Where is Dad going? But they are always together.
“I have at least six months, and I promise you I'll get you in a house and settled. You'll have social security. Terry will help you when he can. It will be ok.” My dad sounded desperate and sad.
Six months? Where is my dad going in six months? I need my dad. He can't go anywhere!
“Survivor benefits are less Oscar, and we've always been a team. I'm scared.”
Me too mom. I'm scared now too.
“I know honey, but I'm here now. I'll fight as long as I can, I promise.”
The next day I asked Henry if he had heard them talking. I told him I was scared.
“Nancy! You know better than to listen to other people's conversations. What did they say?”
I repeated what i had heard. I expected Henry to freak out, but he just sighed.
“So now you know. Dad is dying. They gave him six months, but he is in a drug trial. They think he may have up to five years.”
Five years? My dad will be dead in six months to five years? He can't die. I need him!
I was eight years old when I learned I had taken my dad for granted. I learned that day that no one lives forever, not even moms and dads -- and I vowed I would never take my dad for granted again.
原文地址 <https://www.quora.com/Did-you-take-your-parents-for-granted-What-made-you-realize-that>
Quora
Did you take your parents for granted? What made you realize that?
Answer (1 of 60): When I was eight years old my dad retired from his job at the ship yard, and we moved from Lomita, CA to a small place called Woodys in the middle of the desert. I didn't understand why we had to leave my brother and sisters, my nieces and…
