Conversation Type 1

Dad: “Grace-soo. How are you?”
Me: “I’m good.”
Dad: “Call me.”
Me: “Okay.”

Dad: “You okay?”
Me: “Yes.”
Dad: “Okay.”

Sometimes I would try to say something real, but this was always cut off with… “OK.”

Me: “How are you?”
Dad: “Good.”
Me: “What’s new?”
Dad: “Nothing. Okay, bye.”
Me: “Bye.”

Decades passed by with us only going through the motions of this one conversation, not veering off-script. I wondered why we even bothered to call each other.

Our conversation diversified a bit after my mom left, and I would go visit him for my max 24-48-hour visits.

Conversation Type 2

Dad: “You hungry?”
Me: “No.”
Dad: “Eat this.”
Me: “No, I’m not hungry.”

Conversation Type 3

Dad: “You need to get married! Have a baby. Make a family.”
Me: “No, I’m good. I’m never getting married.”

Repeat ad infinitum