The Boy Teacher and the Father Student # 60 “Childs’” Day, Celebration

Disclaimer here. This is written on father’s day. This is day 5 of father’s day.

It would seem we have this backwards maybe. Why a Father’s day and no Son’s day. Hey we are just posing the question. But who contributes more to the other? My father was adamant it was lopsided in favor of the son. The child gives more to the father than can ever be the reverse. I swear it is around here. My two boys are just awesome in their love of me. Effusive? Maybe.

So we are just going to walk through a few interchanges. We know this is about a boy and his dad but for today let us bridge that gap and include daughters. Let us just explain on this day. Unless it is in quotes it is more of a conglomerate of years and not one sitting. And some will be through cards but we will just put that in dialogue form.

D: Dad you need to be around longer. You need to stop smoking.

F: Read my email it has been quite some time since I smoked but since I did not smoke around you, you would not notice would you?

D: Wow dad!! That is so awesome! I love it. I will send you a card. I am so proud of you.

F: I did it for you.

D: BS dad I know that an addict cannot stop for someone else.

F: Interesting notion speaking to a co-dependent like me. Besides if I do something for my most favorite eldest child it is for me.

D: I am not even going to go there, you are out there, not me, I have to work for a living.

F: You don’t think that being way out there is not a lot of work.

D: Dad sometimes you are annoyingly strange. But that is what I love about you.

B: Dad I know it is your Father’s day but how old are you? Your brain seems fiteen but your body one hundred.

F: So kind and loving and encouraging you are. Who taught you “fiteen”? Hmm? Hands on hips in consternation.

B: You did. And I know you did it to help teach me about language. But I speak 3 languages now, I just do it to please you.

F: Sorry dude I do not count Portuguese and Spanish as different languages any more than Spanglish. Oops I just made the basis for the argument you speak 4 if my premise is wrong.

B: And do not forget that I lived in France for a bit doing that art stuff. I speak 4 languages and you are illiterate in all languages.

F: The brutality, if you had a doctorate like me, I would take you seriously. But no, you run around playing concerts or gigs or “whatever” while I spend earnest time thinking and worrying about you.

B: Oh yah, let me think of the last time I saw you actually worry about me. Hmmm – Never!!

F: Don’t come off on me like that. You know that is my Jesus deal, he worries while I observe and direct.

B: That is so messed up dad. You need a shrink. Not about not worrying, but thinking you “direct”, that is

delusional and your Jesus deal would fail you in a theology class 101.

F: What you need is faith son, just faith.

B: Oh I do dad, faith you went around the bend without a full load of bricks. Hihihi. Now let’s get Gabe and go surfing.

F: You know I really cannot surf even though you really have tried to teach me.

B: Don’t worry you can lay on the beach like a beached whale. At least that way I do not have to rescue you.

F: Where did you get that near caustic and sarcastic sense of humor? Never mind, do not answer that and I really like it. You really do crack me up. Let’s get to that beach brother.*

B: Seriously, how are you doing with your health issues? You look just fine. But looks can be deceiving and we don’t read no book by it’s cover.

F: I feel good enough to kick your ass. But I would not go on a back country hike without you to rescue me. Kind of strange how that works. You know I am all into my herb and nutrition stuff and it is working but now I have to get stronger in muscle.

B: That is so cool dad. Now about that ass kicking. Mythical or real who first flew?

F: That is easy but you will say Icarus but it was his dad who tested the wings first.

B: Dang you are good! For a nutcase.

Perhaps a wise man would conclude that these interchanges do not happen. That would be an appropriate conclusion without investigation. I had a Philosopher professor Phd dude who told me to not let a day go by without intellectual pursuit, but never forget the rest of the test. He truly meant to try to share it with others, as in turning in the answers to the test. Dr. Jensen thank you. So it came to be I had a captive audience with my youther ones. They simply would not listen and then 18 years later they would quote my BS back at me.

The youngest daughter and son are spooky with this. Maybe I honed my relating skills by then.

D: Dad we are doing a micro plastic pick up on the beach Saturday. And then we are doing an art fair with them. You need to bring Gabe up.

F: Grr, I hate that drive and you know I don’t like the social stuff. But for Gabe and you, OK.

D: Fantastic Dad, we are going to have too much fun. Pick up Juanita’s burritos.

F: See! You are just using me. We will bring hemp bags and our sticks for clean up, I took care of our gloves so no latex ones. Our water will be in our containers not plastic. I still don’t get that deal with sunscreen pollution but we will go all Aloe Vera. What should we bring for the art fair?

D: Nothing except your smiling faces. Well maybe some inland stuff.

F: What? You mean like garbage?

D: Micro garbage dad. We will wash it up here.

F: You do get the fact that washing this stuff up uses water?

D: What did you teach me? “Progress and not perfection”? Use the hose to fill the bucket to wash it. Leave it in the hot sun and wave clean air on it. And do not eat it.

F: Smart Ass.

Being proactive environmentalist is a blast but it takes a bit too much thought and effort. This daughter goes the extra mile. She was “held” back a year in school due to language and reading issues. She rose to President of her academy. She rose to a dual degree from Berkeley on scholarship. “Society and Environment” was one such degree. I simply cannot make this stuff up.

We call these things “Christmas” “Day”, Arbor “day” Father’s “day”. A day is a slice of time. We count it 24 hours. But a day is time spent. If you chose to spend time with a young ones miracles happen. Children’s week is a time – why not extend it. I have and I beg you to do the same.

* Friend and Brother and Sister and Pappy and Buddy and girlfriend are all allowable and cherished as they are used to mean different parts of the relationship.