I remember five years ago, I met this girl on the internet, who lived on the other side of the island, about 2 hours away (long drive by PR standards). We talked on the phone for months and I wanted to meet her because we were infatuated.
One sunday morning I gathered the courage and stole my dads car and drove by the beautiful mountainside interstate, listening to some smooth Bossa Nova, Reggae, and Jazz rythms as I felt the sensation of a bird who leaves his nest for the first time.
When I got there I made love to the girl on a desolate beach in a beautiful afternoon, and spent the day trailing the beach.
On the drive back, I was worried as hell of what my dad would say or do to me when I get back, sunburned, with that "deer caught on headlights" look of a kid who just lost his virginity, and with a slight smell of alcohol.
When I got out of the car, my dad was waiting for me outside with a strange look in his face. He said
"Maybe you are a man now."
and shook my hand for the first time.
That was the deepest conversation I ever had with my dad.
Farewell old man, the pain is over, see you on the other side.
