Family Ties

Family Ties

From the time when I was born my father has lived in Florida, which is a thousand miles away from me in Pennsylvania.    I never really got to know him due to the distance between us.  We talked on the phone from time to time and I visited him once every few years.  During my visits we went to several beautiful beaches; such as Pompano Beach, Hillsboro Beach, Lauderdale by the Sea.  We have also traveled to Key Largo and Key West, the drive is amazing!  We were surrounded by blue water as far as you could see.

 When I was fourteen I received a standard monthly phone call from my dad. This call was very different however, I will never forget that day.   He broke some big news to me that I would have never expected nor wanted. My dad was going to also be a dad to a baby boy in a few months. My first reaction was to burst into tears and yell at him, but once I realized I was going to be a big sister I was okay with it. I was excited that I would have a little brother to bond with and give advice to, as he got older.

I decided during the summer of that year to take a flight to Fort Lauderdale, Florida to see my dad and my newborn brother. The flight time approached and I made my way to the Pittsburgh Airport with my mom. I said my goodbyes and hopped on the plane. When I landed approximately two hours later I was met by my father, his girlfriend, and my brother. He was the cutest thing I had ever seen. I was just so anxious to go back to the house and play with him. My trip was for twenty-one days and that was the longest I had been away from home. I was a bit nervous I would get homesick and miss my mother and friends.

By day seven, the beach was getting boring and my new brother’s crying was also. I called my mom and begged to get a flight home immediately. That apparently was not an option. The next week felt like a lifetime. I went to Disney just like the other seven times I have been there.  Yes, Disney is a magical place but this time it was a bit different.  This time with a newborn baby along, it was not easy and was quite unnerving at times. If planning on a trip with family please make sure children are older.  You will appreciate this piece of advice.

Of course, I loved meeting my brother but it was a very stressful and emotional time.  I guess I felt slighted due to the fact my dad left me when I was very young and now he was devoting all his time to a new baby.  I never really knew what it was like having a father when I was growing up.  This trip was very different from past trips due to me not being the center of attention for the time I was there.     

I needed to find something to occupy my time, so I called my friend Maggie who was vacationing in the Keys with her mom.  She said that she could come and stay with me for a few days. My dad and I drove to meet her and I instantly felt relieved. It was comforting seeing someone from home.

After spending quality time with her I had to say another goodbye. The good news was that seventeen days were down and only three and a half days to go. I was unfortunately experiencing flu like symptoms and felt quite ill. I suffered through the last days with plenty of ice cream, soup, and movies. On the last day of my visit I was upset that I had to leave my new little brother and the sunny weather but I was ready to go back home

My life was changed from this day forward with the addition of my brother.   He was instantly added to my list of the people that I love. This may not have been the most enjoyable trip due to all the emotions that I felt but meeting my brother for the first time made it all worthwhile. .  I try to visit and keep in touch as much as possible and I am even thinking about attending college in Boco Raton, Florida to be closer to my little brother.