<p>Full Post: <a href="https://www.djvalerieblove.com/post/i-forgive-you-dad" target="_blank">https://www.djvalerieblove.com/post/i-forgive-you-dad</a><a href="https://www.djvalerieblove.com/post/i-forgive-you-dadIn" target="_blank"> <br /><br />In</a> this intimate reflection recorded on what would have been my Dad, Fast Eddie’s 99th birthday, I share the complicated truth of loving a tough father shaped by war, hardship, addiction, and old-school beliefs. From Detroit streets and Coney Island hot dogs to long days at the racetrack and whispered mob connections, I revisit the chaotic, colorful backdrop of my childhood—and the ways it forged my resilience, boundaries, and hustle.&nbsp;<br /><br />As I recount a rare conversation we captured on a camcorder about his World War II and Korea memories, I explore the compassion that grew when I finally heard his pain. This episode is a love letter and a letting go: a practice in forgiveness and gratitude for a man who never found peace but taught me grit, commitment, and how to make a killer Sunday sauce. I imagine him riding beside me in the mountains, meeting his grandkids, and seeing the world I love—technology, music, and awe—through softer eyes. Here’s to healing old stories, honoring our complicated people, and choosing to keep our hearts open.</p> <p><br /><p>(00:30) Funky Friday and remembering Fast Eddie</p><p>(01:04) Growing up near Detroit and a turbulent home</p><p>(02:17) Health struggles, alcohol, and not feeling safe</p><p>(02:44) Silence about the past and a Coney Island interview plan</p><p>(03:44) Anger, school ambition, and patriarchal rules</p><p>(05:35) Realizing dads mafia ties and Detroit memories</p><p>(07:16) Life at the racetrack and a painful bulimia origin</p><p>(10:04) War memories: survivors guilt and compassion</p><p>(11:12) Self-medication, soul hole, and glimpses of joy</p><p>(11:54) Abandonment, boys homes, and being the peacemaker</p><p>(12:57) Forgiveness, gratitude, and a violent world today</p><p>(14:15) Imagining dad beside her on a mountain drive</p><p>(15:01) Pasta sauce, family warmth, and closure</p><p>(15:33) Lessons, hustle, and a birthday goodbye</p><br /><a href="https://djvalerieblove.com/subscribe❤️" target="_blank"><br />❤️</a>&nbsp; Join the LOVE Tribe for Free!<br /><a href="https://djvalerieblove.com/subscribe" target="_blank">https://djvalerieblove.com/subscribe</a><br /><br />&nbsp; SUPPORT THE SHOW WITH V4V TIPS - Thank You! 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