Bucket of Balls

The description of his reaction I received was "His eyes lit up like a Christmas tree!" I had called home on a Friday afternoon, said I was leaving work early and asked my son if he wanted to go hit a bucket of balls. (Working what have been 60-70 hours weeks of late has made that VERY unusual!)

Now, HE'S a golfer- shooting in the 80's or sometimes 90's. But for 16 that's great. He wants badly to play more. I should have helped that happen more. I'M a hacker- shooting in the realm just past embarrassment. But we went and we got the LARGE buckets and we started hitting.

It was a blast. He can drive the ball almost 300 yards. It's that whole control thing that he....and I.... struggle with. Just like when he was pitching in baseball or trying to score a goal in soccer. Plenty of power- plenty of skill- trying to harness all that and bring it under control.

We bonded- but I believe men bond differently than women. I don't mean this as some sexist rant at all, I just think it's different sometimes. We didn't say a lot. The act of asking had said so much. His excitement at going had also said so much. A couple of "wows!" from me interspersed by the old Dad willfully accepting coaching tips from the more experienced son did quite a lot. After about 20 balls, I broached, "So when is Homecoming?" He responded with the date. "Gonna go?" I asked. And there he went- talking about the young ladies he likes and who he might go with and who broke up with who and all the things a dad loves to hear but sons don't always want to say.

It was an incredible afternoon- and long overdue. I don't really like golf all that much, but I can tell I'm going to be playing more and more.

8 year old

This morning as our 8 year old son was doing his best to delay the oncoming morning by snuggling deep in the covers, he sat up and said, "Daddy, why do you go to work?" He does those kinds of things. He is not one for beating around the bush- he says what's on his mind. Like the time he said, "You smell revolting!" to one of our best friends who tends to wear a bit too much cologne. Well....our friend did smell a bit heavy, but his keen olfactory senses and limited vocabulary came out with "revolting." He has been an absolute joy in our lives. He has lifted up in times of trial and, through his innocence, made us realize who we can become. I love the way he likes to eat "cakeses" and watch shows and ride on the "far swing." He is a strength to us far beyond his years or experiences.