I'm a bad daughter

[Dina Lerret]

Maybe it's on some subconscious level but I forgot my dad's birthday
was Friday.  The sad thing is it's a few days before mine, so you'd
think I'd *remember*... but my own birthday tends to pass with little
notice. {shrug} I sometimes forget about my birthday.

As to why my mind hasn't placed my dad's birthday on 'top days to
remember', we were never close and his not even paying a third of my
mom's alimony, which is court ordered and he's been in contempt of
court** for at least five months, has me forking out half my income to
my mom to make sure she's okay.  Given enough time, I'll end up with
'negative' income (e.g. I'll be operating in debt).

Still, as trivial as the gesture, I do try to remember at least a
birthday card and Christmas card. {sigh} I'll have to send one out
tomorrow.

**Court ruled he was fully capable of getting a job as an engineer or
something similar, and in fact, he had turned down past job offers.  I
wish I could give him more of a benefit of the doubt--he's my dad--but
I can't help but be suspicious that he's taking advantage of my income
and then he'll point out why he doesn't need to pay full alimony.  I
thought this but didn't voice it; my mom voiced it, so we didn't need
to say anything to be on the same page.  My mom never did like taking
money from me; she was always like 'you should save your money'.

Dina