The Father Syndrome

I had an ephiphany the other day. It didn't hurt so I'm not sure if it's technically a true epiphany. True epiphany's are supposed to hurt like hell. I'm not sure exactly what made me think of this. Quite possibly because I was discussing my "love" life to someone. I was glossing over the old flames, when I realized something they all had in common. I'll call it the Father syndrome, I'm sure there is some kind of bullshit psychological name for it. But psychology isn't even a science bunch of namby pambies bitches. I'll define the Father Syndrome as this:

An individual whose relationship with their father is strained or non-existent. The individual is attracted to members of the opposite sex who lack a father, or also have a strained relationship with the father figure. The individual therefore will attempt to become the father figure and indirectly try to do things from theirselves that their father lack to do for them.

All my previous girlfriends all lacked this father figure, either having been divorced at an early age, or he was removed from the picture during adolenscene. I then tried to be that lacking father figure for them. It never worked out, which is good and for the best. But it's something I learned from.

My relationship with my father is defintely strained. The song the Cat's in the Cradle is a perfect example of our relationship.

Well, he came from college just the other day,
So much like a man I just had to say,
"Son, I'm proud of you. Can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head, and he said with a smile,
"What I'd really like, dad, is to borrow the car keys.
See you later. Can I have them please?"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man in the moon.
"When you coming home, son?" "I don't know when,
But we'll get together then, dad.
You know we'll have a good time then."

I've long since retired and my son's moved away.
I called him up just the other day.
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind."
He said, "I'd love to, dad, if I could find the time.
You see, my new job's a hassle, and the kid's got the flu,
But it's sure nice talking to you, dad.
It's been sure nice talking to you."
And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me,
He'd grown up just like me.
My boy was just like me.