Did You Know?

Did you know that I am only 4' 10 3/4"?

Did you know that my favorite color is yellow?

Did you know that I could eat cereal any time of the day and not get tired of it?

Did you know?

What an amazing question that is... One that inspires curiosity and allows you to learn. There's a running joke about Snapple lids and how no matter the flavor or whether it's good or bad at least you learn something with every bottle.

Did you know vultures can fly for 6 hours without flapping their wings?

Did you know a full moon is nine times brighter than a half moon?

Did you know you share your birthday with at least 9 million other people on the world?

Did you know?

I had this question asked to me earlier this week, and it kind of broke me a bit. It was something that made me feel pity and made me think about myself and the type of person I've become. Many people know the relationship my siblings and I have with my dad and that it's not a good one. On Sunday, my mom called me and was talking to me about a lot of things that are going on and how everyone is kind of dealing with them by not dealing with them.

I am naturally a peacemaker. I don't like arguments, and though I can get into them, many times I don't find reason to get angry. It takes a lot to make me mad and I like it better like that. I also trust people very willingly, not caring what others think I should do. That sometimes hurts me when people abuse that trust, but I would rather give someone the benefit of the doubt than immediately put them in a bubble of doubt. Lastly, I have learned how to forgive. I forgive even when others have not apologized. Some people say that makes me a bigger person, but honestly, sometimes saying that you are willing to forgive is the only way you can move on from a situation because the second party is not willing to apologize.

But back to my conversation with my mom. As she was talking about everything that's been going on, she asked me if I called my dad this past week. I told her that I had on Wednesday or Thursday and she was quiet for a minute on the phone. With tears in her voice, she said to me "I know that sometimes you guys don't think your dad cares at all, but he does. He just doesn't know how to show it. Do you want to know what your dad said to me this week?" I begrudgingly said yes and she said, "He was just quiet for a long time and he looked over at me and said 'Did you know Diana is the only one of our kids who calls me?'"

I started crying

I pity my dad, because he doesn't realize how much the things he has said and done affect us.

I pity the fact that my 5 siblings don't want to call because they don't want to forgive him, and they have just cause.

I pity the fact that many times, I call simply because I know that if I don't, I'll feel like I'm going to get in trouble.

I constantly say that everyone has the potential to become so much more, so much better than they are now, and that is myself included. It is so sad to think that of six, I am the only child that is willing to put aside my prejudices and make a two-minute phone call, yet right now maybe that's how things need to be. I have a firm belief that one day, things will be different. I don't know if that day will come on earth or after the great Millennium, but one day, things will be different, and I gladly welcome that day.

Did you know that although he has told me terrible things, I still find a way to love my dad?

Because I do

Diana Laura Peck