Family drama and other incidentals

So, I'm pretty sure my father is bi-polar. He's gone through crazy mood swings all of my life. Our relationship goes through ebbs and flows, and I have come to accept it for what it is. I try to understand who he is, though he angers me a lot. My dad is racist. Now, he thinks that just because he has spoken to black people at work, he isn't. Nope, he is.

My sister moved to Florida and started dating black men. Frankly, I don't care who she dates as long as she is happy, and he treats her right. My dad just could not handle it. He had a complete meltdown and has not spoken to her in a year. I tried to shield my sister by taking his screaming phone call. He never told her how he felt--he told me. She decided to call him last night so that she could "clear the air." He screamed at her about how he would never accept her and all kinds of crazy things about what happened when my parents were getting a divorce. Now, this happened over 17 years ago. Why neither of my parents are able to let go of all of this is beyond me. They chose each other; they created the situation. I don't know.

I guess that through some miracle, my dad found it in his heart to call her back. He made some threat about not getting stabbed in the back by her again. What the heck? I guess I'll never understand him as much as I try to. I mean, how can a parent stop talking to his/her kid? Why would that ever be acceptable in his mind?

On another note, T and B played hide and seek tonight. I just love when T runs screaming and giggling in the other direction..."Daddy, get me! Get me!" We had his friend over from school, and they played and ran and laughed, and it made me long for those long, warm summer months of my youth, when summer seemed to last forever. Now, the days are too short, even though they are the longest. I start school on Monday, and I'm dreading it--not because I don't like my job. I love working with the students. It's leaving T and all of the fun we've had this summer. With B starting school, I think we're all just a little nervous about the changes that are going to take place. Ah, such is life. Here's looking forward to a great fall and beginning of the school year.