July twenty-eighth was both our birthdays. Grandma said I was the best birthday present my dad ever got. I was born on his ninetieth birthday 7/28/1999. It was also the day my dad joined the Navy. My mom was dad's high school sweetheart who got pregnant their senior year. She didn't give birth until after graduation and then disappeared. Her name was left off the birth certificate on purpose.
According to grandma he gave up looking for a mom for me at the age of twenty-one. The first four years grandma took care of me when dad was on a ship. When he signed up for a second four more years in the Navy he was allowed to stay on land due to being a single parent with a kid in school. Dad and I lived in San Diego and he was working at the Navy Recruiting Training Center, Monday through Friday. Once a month he would have extra duty normally with security. Back on a ship during the Gulf War now my dad had active duty in a war zone.
After twenty years my father retires. On the day I turn 21 my single father turns forty years old and my daddy is having issues. In my twenty one years of existence my father has slept with three women and all of those were over eighteen years ago. I live at home and just finished four years of college. At the age of twenty one I have a Bachelor's degree in Business Admin. My dad is collecting his military retirement and looking for what to do next. As we go out to celebrate both our Birthdays. I find my dad in his underwear staring at himself.
Me - Nice butt dad. I think you might be over doing the squats.
Dad - Do you thing I should go back to a military haircut? I think short hair makes me look younger.
Me - Who are you looking to impress.
Dad - No one I just ... Aw I don't know. Never mind. Where are we going?
Me - According to the website WCPC it's and old bar down by the base that just opened back up after nine years. They have dance floor and a DJ, pool tables with country music, and an outside area with jazz music and a mixed age crowd of my age to fifty.
Dad - Ground rules no one gets too drunk, or and together we both come back home either alone or with someone.
Me - I agree but what are you afraid is going to happen dad.
Dad - It is a big birthday for both of us. We are at a major point in our lives about what comes next. I just don't want anyone to be disappointed including myself.
Me - I want to get there by nine-thirty before it gets too busy.
Dad - I will be ready but let's take a Uber.
The two birthday boys show up right at nine thirty. Show their IDs to get in and the employees at the door make a big deal it is a father and son birthday. The two men walk in a each gets jumped with three or for of their friends. The father and son look at each other and.... in unison.
Dad - It's a gay bar. This is me coming out of the closet. WHAT?
Me - It's a gay bar. This is me coming out of the closet. WHAT?
Dad - This is James my boyfriend from the Navy.
Me - This is Pete we been boyfriends since our last year of college.
Neither had any idea. Best birthday ever.
Daddy Issues - Story Time Blog
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