SINGLE DADS BLOG

October 29/November 2012- “SANDYS STORM SURGES”

There must be something about the name Sandy that Mom liked. Not one but TWO ex-husbands named Sandy, HMMM…makes it easy in case she slipped up (smiling and rollin’ eyes). These two men came on the tail end of one another, no time to spare–similar to the way storm Sandy, progressed from a SUPER Storm and a Hurricane, to a Nor’easter.

My two single dads were Sandy G (short for Sanford), and Sandy F (short for Alexander). I realize storms are named after women, but there was a great woman, behind, in front, and beside these two men, and as a blogger, I am having some fun. Beside, my mom, who is a force of nature herself, seemed to get swept up by men, all kinds. Wannabe dads, soon to be dads, already dads and ones that later became single dads.

“Sandy” the Hurricane blew through New York on October 29th with no certainty of how big, bad and ugly it might be. That is the premise of this blog: you just never know what to expect. The same was true for both Sandy’s. They were awesome but unpredictable.

Both Sandy’s had a lifelong influence on me, as they did on all the other children they shared with our mother, in addition to other children, who were a residual benefit (Oh-happy days).

The impact that they had was not always steady and strong, but indeed like a hurricane – it was TuMUltuOUS! What SUPER Storm Sandy did was unprecedented and, so was how my dads changed me and taught me lifelong lessons.

I started writing this blog because of my two single dads named Sandy. I was called to action by the storm. I’ll be writing here about the life lessons they taught me, and also inviting you to share your stories, and experiences as single dads in NYC along the way.

Everything my single dads did, taught me something, whether it was “Good, Bad or Ugly” (a future post). With “Super Storm Sandy,” I was reminded how I was taught as a child and again as a teenager, when I was sent away to school, and then as a grown-up, that one must be prepared, careful, responsible and safe.

SD Life Lesson #1: You can have it all–and–you can lose it all.

The storm was described as a hybrid storm one half hurricane and one half a Nor’easter and believe me these dads could not be more different, however with similar drive and desire. How appropriate! Using “Sandy” as a reference, inter-related, like my two single dads.

And like the storm Sandy, both Sandys in my life came on the scene almost simultaneously, and, this created one heck of a surge. Back in their day, articles were written in the newspapers about the two Sandys, and of course the eye of their storm, my mom. The dads knew they were both spinning circles around MOM, and may the best dad win!

COMING UP: After Storm Sandy Single Dad Lesson # 2: Step Up And Help Wherever You Can