Dan Akroyd, Daddy Jim, and Second Chances
Posted: Saturday, June 20, 2009
by Teresa Ortiz
Freelance writer/Speaker
It's been said by the Best that there is a time and a purpose for everything under Heaven, I believe it with all my heart.
It's also been said that a positive-thinking person will always make Lemonade out of life's Lemons. I tend to think that it's God who makes Lemonade out of the Lemons we give Him.
~~~
It was December 3, 1976; mom met a great guy and they began to date. He was nice to us kids, and I liked him the first time I met him. Things were weird, far as I can remember, since it wasn't that long before this that we were bouncing back and forth; get back together with dad, move out from dad's – as if it were some cruel game.
Something was different with him – settled, relaxed. Mom was happy and so were we. He helped with homework, he brought us food, and he took us to the movies. After awhile, he moved in with us and we were a family. We moved into a better city, and for a while there was stability – he became my daddy. He slid into that role so naturally, not forced, like on the occasional visit to my father's house where we were forced to call my step-mom, mom.
Then one day, three years later he was gone. Being a kid, I didn't understand; what happened? Only they would know. The years came and went, and I never saw him again. Life went on and things were out of control for a time. We never stopped talking about Jim, we loved him so, and we always laughed about the time the back seat to his 62' Chevy Impala was stolen. I remember all of us kids piling in the back and sitting on the floorboards…. Though I remembered him, I could not remember what he looked like until I saw the movie Trading Places with Dan Akroyd and Eddie Murphy.
"That's him, that's Jim – Art, that is Jim, the one we have been telling you about!"
"Dan Akroyd is Jim?" "Don't be dumb, that is what Jim looks like!
From that day on when I thought of Jim I pictured Dan Akroyd – he was my connection to the daddy I once knew; just a memory of three wonderful years when I was a kid.
~~~~
Mom never got over Dan Akroyd, she never remarried and always prayed for a second chance to fix what ever it was that happened – and then one day, just two weeks after mom decided she would relent and accept that it wasn't going to happen – she received a letter in the mail. It was from Dan. (I'm referring to him as Dan because it became the gentle joke, a way to lighten the reality of love lost.)
That day came in February 2004. Mom kept it a secret until March and then told us kids about it. After all those years, he was feeling the same way – she was available and they began a courtship that lasted four months – they married in July, and then had a ceremony in August, it was beautiful.
(As to how all this came about, and what went on in between, well some things are better left to the imagination – unless of course, Oprah offers me millions to spill the beans.)
There was one issue I had – he wasn't Dan Akroyd!
What a gift, God certainly made lemonade out of the lemons that grew in those earlier years. Each of them grew as individuals; Jim was blessed with a wonderful son, my new brother, Eddie. Jim was more than I remembered. He fit right in as naturally as he had so many years ago; but this time it was right, it was God's way, and it is beautiful. The first Thanksgiving we spent together was amazing! We pushed our kitchen table aside and played jacks together, just as we did when we were kids. It was a beautiful day. We talked about old times, but more importantly, about what the future had in store for all of us. We did however; discuss the rooster and chickens they bought for us one Easter…we laughed until we cried.
Today is Friday, June 20, 2009 – tomorrow is Father's Day! What a blessing it is to have a second chance to have him in our lives.
To Daddy Jim I say, thank you for everything you did for us as kids, and for all you do for us now. You are a treasure worth far more than all the money in the world can buy. It's great to hear your contagious laugh again.
To my heavenly Father, thank you for the lemonade.
(I wish I knew how to upload a picture of Dan and Jim - they do resemble eachother.)
© Teresa Ortiz
It's also been said that a positive-thinking person will always make Lemonade out of life's Lemons. I tend to think that it's God who makes Lemonade out of the Lemons we give Him.
It was December 3, 1976; mom met a great guy and they began to date. He was nice to us kids, and I liked him the first time I met him. Things were weird, far as I can remember, since it wasn't that long before this that we were bouncing back and forth; get back together with dad, move out from dad's – as if it were some cruel game.
Something was different with him – settled, relaxed. Mom was happy and so were we. He helped with homework, he brought us food, and he took us to the movies. After awhile, he moved in with us and we were a family. We moved into a better city, and for a while there was stability – he became my daddy. He slid into that role so naturally, not forced, like on the occasional visit to my father's house where we were forced to call my step-mom, mom.
Then one day, three years later he was gone. Being a kid, I didn't understand; what happened? Only they would know. The years came and went, and I never saw him again. Life went on and things were out of control for a time. We never stopped talking about Jim, we loved him so, and we always laughed about the time the back seat to his 62' Chevy Impala was stolen. I remember all of us kids piling in the back and sitting on the floorboards…. Though I remembered him, I could not remember what he looked like until I saw the movie Trading Places with Dan Akroyd and Eddie Murphy.
"That's him, that's Jim – Art, that is Jim, the one we have been telling you about!"
"Dan Akroyd is Jim?" "Don't be dumb, that is what Jim looks like!
From that day on when I thought of Jim I pictured Dan Akroyd – he was my connection to the daddy I once knew; just a memory of three wonderful years when I was a kid.
~~~~
Mom never got over Dan Akroyd, she never remarried and always prayed for a second chance to fix what ever it was that happened – and then one day, just two weeks after mom decided she would relent and accept that it wasn't going to happen – she received a letter in the mail. It was from Dan. (I'm referring to him as Dan because it became the gentle joke, a way to lighten the reality of love lost.)
That day came in February 2004. Mom kept it a secret until March and then told us kids about it. After all those years, he was feeling the same way – she was available and they began a courtship that lasted four months – they married in July, and then had a ceremony in August, it was beautiful.
(As to how all this came about, and what went on in between, well some things are better left to the imagination – unless of course, Oprah offers me millions to spill the beans.)
There was one issue I had – he wasn't Dan Akroyd!
What a gift, God certainly made lemonade out of the lemons that grew in those earlier years. Each of them grew as individuals; Jim was blessed with a wonderful son, my new brother, Eddie. Jim was more than I remembered. He fit right in as naturally as he had so many years ago; but this time it was right, it was God's way, and it is beautiful. The first Thanksgiving we spent together was amazing! We pushed our kitchen table aside and played jacks together, just as we did when we were kids. It was a beautiful day. We talked about old times, but more importantly, about what the future had in store for all of us. We did however; discuss the rooster and chickens they bought for us one Easter…we laughed until we cried.
Today is Friday, June 20, 2009 – tomorrow is Father's Day! What a blessing it is to have a second chance to have him in our lives.
To Daddy Jim I say, thank you for everything you did for us as kids, and for all you do for us now. You are a treasure worth far more than all the money in the world can buy. It's great to hear your contagious laugh again.
To my heavenly Father, thank you for the lemonade.
(I wish I knew how to upload a picture of Dan and Jim - they do resemble eachother.)
© Teresa Ortiz
This Article has been viewed 547 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
More commentsAhhh, sweet memories, and similarities! Teresa, I can relate. But I want to shine a light on something you said, because I feel many people should look at life in the same manner: "...a positive-thinking person will always make Lemonade out of life's Lemons..."Thanks for sharing this with us! Stay Blessed.Hi Ronyae, it is a great point, thanks for shinning more light on it.However, these past 3 weeks have me thinking about where these lemons come from.I think it is our choices that cause lemon trees to grow in our own back yards, and this saying "make lemonade out of life's lemons" tends to say that we have nothing to do with what comes our way. (yes, I am pondering an article) You know what I mean girlie? :-)Blessings right back to you.Oh, yes, I know what you mean(smile)
What a wonderful love story! And, very well written! :)Hi Rhonda,Thanks so much, I am glad you enjoyed it :-) have a wonderful day!
Teresa, great article. It never ceases to amaze me to see how God works in His perfect timing. Happy Father's Day, Daddy Jim!Hi Rob,Thanks for the happy father's day wish for Jim. I agree, God is good and his timing is perfect and he works all things together for good and according to his purpose. My mom was amazed at the timing. I think sometimes God is just waiting for us to surrender all things to his will and to quit fighting for whatever it is we want, and just say okay Lord, I give up, I will be content in the state I am in. And then, wa-la, he works an amazing work. Something we never saw coming. At least this has been my experience.I hope your day was fabulous! Teresa
A great and touching story. I am happy for you all. Thanks for sharing it with us.Hi Mark, thank you for reading and leaving a kind comment.I don't think we have met before. I will check out your work. Blessings to you! Teresa
Thank you for writing this article. I'm sure there are alot of families that can relate to your story.Thank you Deborah, Divorce is a said thing, never God's will, but the heart of man is wicked and sometimes the end result is divorce. But God is merciful, loving, and forgiving and promises to restore us nonetheless. Amazing.Blessings to you! Teresa
T-What an inspirational story! Daddy "Dan" sounds awesome and your family sounds lovely! thanks for sharing such a sweet story so close to Father's Day! Hooray for your mom! You know I love you and your writing! thanks for sharing your life with us!Hi LT, Thanks so much. It means a lot to me. I sure am glad God knows how to make lemonade -- strawberry lemonade actually. :-)Love you! T
Thanks, Teresa for sharing your story. We are imperfect people with imperfect lives, but God still blesses! I'm glad you are reunited with Daddy Jim!Hi Lorrie, Amen and Amen. That is why His grace is so Amazing. I still want one of those shirts, "I'm the wretch that song is talking about."Blessings to you! Love, T
What a great article, T. Life can be so wierd at times, but wierd is good!I agree. thanks. Wierd is good at times :-) Blessings to you and your family.
Hi Teresa,What a wonderful love story! I am misty-eyed. I loved reading it, enjoyed it tremendously. Thanks for sharing. You are blessed.More blessings.NenitaHi Nenita, thank you so much! I appreciate your reading and commenting. :-)
Teresa, I think your right because when the going gets tough the tough get going. However, there comes a time when dispair becomes overwhelming and even those who fight through trial after trial wind up totally destroyed. As a believer you know that this is where your dependency turns to God and He alone. When a person can do no more. That is when we are the most humbel. best wishes.Hi Robert, It is true, we as humans can only take so much, it is when we acknowlede this and look to our Savior that we make it through. How much better off would society be if we looked to our Savior before we reached our breaking point? I am praying for you and your family. Blessings, Teresa
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