happy?

It was surprisingly difficult to find a picture of my parents looking happy. During the happy occasions one parent was usually behind the camera lens. This photograph was taken after my youngest sister's dedication ceremony at church. I see smiling faces. A youthful mother. A scratchy mustache. A hyper sister, struggling not to wiggle. And a baby sister; the completion of our family. We usually did a good job of putting on our happy faces in public.

Now that my parents have separated, we no longer have to pretend. Our broken family is visible for the world to see. I feel free....and confused.

Today I met my father's girlfriend. My parents were only separated a few short weeks before my father became serious with another woman. It hurt. I felt like he was dismissing the intimacy of our family by letting a stranger in so quickly. But I met her today and all my negative feelings evaporated. I like her. I think she will make my dad happy. And I actually think she will improve the relationship I have with my dad. He doesn't always know how to communicate with me; I think she could be our connector.

I dread tomorrow. I need to tell my mother I met the other woman....and that I like her.