I met my dad when I was SEVENTEEN

My parents separated when I was six months old and, when I was three, he left the country to start a new family in the US.

Even though single parent families were not the norm at the time (this was the 80s), it was MY norm. I remember a girl at school finding out my parents were divorced and asking if I was OK, as if it had just happened.

Hey. I just found out your goldfish died when you were two!

I was actually A-OK. My mother was both nurturer and protector, and with two older brothers I wa...