[AlwaysSAI]

This is something that, for me, is split.

I haven't spoken to my FATHER since I was a teenager. The last time I saw him I was 17 and he was dropping my sister off at my mom's with all of her belongings to come live with us. (It's a long ugly story).

Now, the man I consider my dad--the man who, when he came to my class last week I said to my students, "My daddy is coming up here and ya'll better not act a mess." Whomever is lucky enough to want to marry me will be expected to ask him for permission and blessing.

For me, it's a passing of the responsibility sort of thing. My step-dad has really raised the bar for the men in my life. He is a man who never had or wanted any children and inherited a pair of 13yr olds when he was in his 50s. He has done things for me and been there for me in a way I never knew a person would be willing to do. Since he's not technically my dad, I see it as "he doesn't have to do the things he does", but he does them because he loves us. When I am in severe crisis mode, he is always the first person I call. Almost a year ago, a guy I really cared about dumped me. I had to go to student teaching the next day. While trying like hell not to cry, all I could think was, I want to go to my mom's and sit with my step-dad.

When I marry someone, it will be much like passing the baton. And, I want the man who wants to marry me and my step-dad to have that conversation.