Just to interject a little to what Joker's referring to.

My "male biological sperm donor" - as I called him through the majority of my younger years, bailed at 2 mos. Left us high and dry, broke as a joke. Mom remarried and the guy put a gun in my face, threatened to kill me, threatened to kill my mother, amongst other things.

When I finally met my father again for the first time, after more than 15 years. I shook his hand, he grabbed me, pulled me into his chest, said, "you don't shake your old man's hand, give me a hug, it's been a hundred years." So I gave him a hug, and the first thing he said to me was, "Sorry it's been so long."

That's all I needed. No need to punch him, give him a black eye, or curse him, or question him, or anything. The fact of the matter is, it wasn't HIS fault my life was different - or worse - shit happens. It was my fate, my destiny, and hopefully the rest of my life will now include him written into the rest of the pages.

I guess what I'm saying is - life is what you make of it, situations are what you make of them, you will only be as good as your outlook or perspective on those situations. Respect for your elders goes a long way.