Mom&Dad

My dad grew up in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, and will never leave. He always smells like Marlboros and wears flannels with holes in the sleeves. He has a fuzzy mustache and a bald spot on his head, hidden by Nascar racing hats. He spends most of his time in the garage working on his race cars. A retired race car driver turned mailman. When we were young, he loved to come to our sports games and scream from the stands. I remember him as tired but content. A great dad.

My mom could not be more different. It's as if God wrote down every characteristic of my father and Googled the antonym. Nevertheless, she was also a great mom. With the energy of a teenager, she was prone to spontaneity and adventure. Always laughing, always dancing. She liked to come home with random pets that we never asked for, like birds and bearded dragons. A great mom.