So lately some things have happened in my life that I didn't see coming. Some things that didn't feel good at first but these things are supposed to be for the better. When times like these arise I like to go to my dad for guidance. My dad's name is Victor, I rarely ever call him dad. It's usually "What the fucks going on Victator!?" or "hey Vic!".
Working for Vic in a towing shop full of five other guys for the better part of my life kind of molded our relationship into an unusual one. But man, I wouldn't trade it for the world.
About eight years ago, ol' Victator was out on the highway in his International semi Wrecker, pulling a small car out of the median. The whether that day was normal winter whether in Michigan. Icy, snowy, and windy. "Too fast for road conditions" one may even say. As Vic was hooking his tow cables up to the stranded car, something happened. An older gentleman was making his way down the same stretch of highway Vic was working on. The older gentleman, within the blink of an eye, lost control of his vehicle and in an instant, Vic was struck by that vehicle. He was pinned between the truck body and the stinger of his wrecker. He says he remembers the initial impact, but after that he remembers nothing.
He was taken to Bronson hospital, and he was taken in critical condition. Once he arrived, the doctors said his chances of survival were slim. He had fractured 9 ribs, one of his lungs was punctured, his left femur was fractured, he had a fracture in his hip, he had a broken arm, a broken leg, his tooth had been chipped and he had a concussion. The doctors had told my mother to prepare for the worst.
Vic had other plans.
He hung on for a few days and his condition began to improve little by little. When he finally became conscious again, he looked around the room, he looked to my mother and he murmured a few words to her. Those sweet little words were "Workmans Comp."
We couldn't help but laugh at that. The man was close to death and his biggest concern was how much this was going to cost him.
Months went by, several surgeries had taken place and Vic was finally able to move from the hospital to a nursing home that was closer to where my family lived. The doctors told him he would never walk again, not without a walker, and that he had a long road of recovery ahead of him. But yet again, Vic had other plans.
The next two years were the hardest, rockiest years of our families existence. My mother cheated on my father while he was laying in a hospital bed, I was a rebel child who didn't even really like my father back then. It was him against the world and he knew that, and Vic did then what Vic always does. Vic won.
Day by day he got stronger. He finally left the nursing home to come back to his home. It wasn't a warm welcome by any means but we can't change the past. Even though looking back on it, I wish I could. After about a year and a half he began to walk again, without any assistance because fuck the doctors, and like we all didn't see this coming about two years after his accident he began to tow again. By that time I had taken over the office work at his business. Really I think he wanted me there to watch his 6 just in case his workmans comp case worker came looking for him to make sure he wasn't in a tow truck somewhere. Which he was.
Maybe three years later I was in my senior year of high school and that's when my parents got a divorce, and it truly was for the better. My parents tried to make it work, but they never should have. Vic packed his things and moved on. He always made sure I was taken care of first though. I am his only daughter and all.
Vic's friends hooked him up with a lady that he had known for a while, her names Velvet. Now, Velvet is my step mom, my moms married to a 36 year old man child, and me? Well, i'm around.
So whenever I'm having troubles in my life I go to my dad and say "Victor, I don't know what i'm doing anymore, what should I do? Lifes got me down lately and i'm just not sure." And my dad hit me with some wisdom this time that made me laugh. He says to me
"Well Mariah. I got hit by a car and your mother left me, but not long after that I met Velvet! And look at how great were doing together! And you know what else? I wanted a new vehicle, I drove around for months looking for a new Cadillac Escalade to buy and didn't find one. All of a sudden I drive past the dealership you work at and there sits a brand new Cadillac Escalade, the exact one I want. So I bought it! Lifes not all bad, you should know that!"
And even though in that moment Vic shit all over my problems with his fantastic life, he was right. We make our own happiness, and if he can make it through what life threw at him, I sure as hell can make it through whatever life throws at me. I can almost hear him saying right now "It's all about your attitude, and you've got an attitude like your mother sometimes!".
And again, he's right.
I now understand the bond between a father and his daughter.
To me, my fathers a legend. And I hope some day I can be as great as he is.
