Just when I thought things were getting better....
Mood:  irritated
As most of you know I have a VERY strained relationship with my father. Until I moved here to NC I hadn't spoken to him in 7 years. Our conversations since then have been brief and usually one-sided since I really had nothing to say to him. Well one day he called me to see how things were going and I told him that I had put an offer in on a house. He asked me what he could do to help. At first I said nothing because his gifts always come with strings attached. He said it would be string free. All he hoped for was that maybe we could start to mend our relationship. So I told him that I could use about $2500 to pay for my share of closing and get out of my lease on the apt. He agreed and sent me a check.

Last week I deposited the money and everything seemed to be coming together. Well Monday I got a call from my bank stating they put a hold on the check I deposited. The bank said they had gotten a call from my Dad's bank stating that funds may not be paid. I asked what exactly that meant. She said that it was common. That he might have automatic drafts to his account and they wanted to make sure those cleared before they paid the check he gave me. She told me not to worry that everything would be fine.

Well this morning I got a call from the bank to tell me that my Dad's check had bounced. WHAT!?! She said it was returned for insufficient funds and they were charging me $5 to send his check back.

At first there was this wave of anger. Then the worry set in because I had cut back on my hours at the pub because I was counting on his check. How was I going to pay my closing costs now and how the hell am I supposed to come up with $1400 to get out of my lease? In the end all of that was replaced with sadness. I thought...or I should say hoped...that he had changed. I thought that maybe I might get my dad back. Granted we would never have a great father/daughter relationship but we could at least talk and that was something. Now it is all ruined. I am sure he will have some sort of excuse. I called him and left him a message but haven't heard anything back. I don't really expect to.

Everyone has been great. My boss sent me out to "walk it off" because I was about to cry and I knew once that started I wouldn't be able to stop. I called my mom who I think was madder at the situation than I was. She calmed me down by saying that we would get the money somehow. Even Lennie has offered to help. I know that I am surrounded by great people and I thank the powers that be everyday for that. But they shouldn't have to come to my rescue.

It has just put a damper on the day.