Mr. Wilner the younger took a hard look at himself and said he didn’t care what he looked like because he was a baby and followed up by looking at the footage of me and saying I might not have much gray but I sure as hell have aged.
I thanked him for the warm wishes, blamed the aging on being a father and provided my own follow up, Viagra didn’t help my hair grow but it did…
“Sonny boy, let’s get a few things straight, don’t try and poke the bear because he hasn’t gotten to be this old without learning how to bite. ;)”
The kid looked at me and said he didn’t want to find out if I was messing with him or serious and I agreed, “you really don’t need to know more do you. I used to be an 18 year-old wise guy and I know a thing or two about how it works.”
His younger sister wanted to laugh but she didn’t want to find out if I would have added to the story so she kept silent.
“I love you two, but never forget that when I am in the right mood I can tell a hell of a story without much effort. You really don’t want to get a rise out of me because that might poke you in the eye.”
Together they shouted “DAD!”
I laughed and told them the best stories aren’t solid because you provide all of the details but because you provide the framework and give the reader/listener enough for them to use their imagination to fill in the blanks.
The weather in Texas is wild and at times unpredictable which is why I wasn’t surprised last Saturday when the sun went into hiding and the wind started blowing in a way that would have been familiar to Dorothy.
It was the second time in a week or so in which it blew hard enough for me to wonder what might happen.
We were lucky to not have any damage or lose power but others were less lucky and their apartment home was destroyed.
I don’t think I knew anyone who lived there but I passed the place several times and was familiar with it.
Been up against it again for a little while but I am the guy who loves it when Cap says “he can do this all day” because I can too.
Why?
I don’t know, maybe because I don’t know how to do some things any other way.
And maybe it is because the one thing I am forever good at is getting back up every time I get hit, tripped or knocked down.
It pisses me off and that is enough.
Wake me up when it is all over.
Part of the chaos and confusion of late stems from a few things I won’t put in print because there are boundaries in blogging and y’all don’t need to know everything.
And if you feel you are part of the select group that deserves more details I am sure you’ll ask and I’ll determine whether I feel like opening the door or sitting in my tree.
I kind of like it up there, there is a nice breeze and the view is quite pleasant.
Anyhoo, my soon to be 15 year-old daughter joined me again at the gym and giggled a few more times watching her old man throw the iron around.
I confess I get a kick out of her being with me and enjoy showing her how to do certain exercises. She makes it easy for me to push forward and go a little bit harder.
She is the reason why I am pushing a solid 20 minutes on the elliptical in addition to the lifting and the treadmill.
It is still not close to where I want to be, but it is much closer than it used to be and she reminds me that some goals are more attainable than I had been viewing them.
Did I mention her giggling?
I intentionally don’t mention it to her, but it is nice to hear that and not be the recipient of the eye roll and sarcasm.
She is a good kid, but she is still a teenager and so I am subject to the whims and moods that come with that.
Her older brother has his moments too, but it is different and a sharp look is more effective with him than it is with her.
I think she suspects I am wrapped a little bit tighter around her little finger than I am. Daddy’s girl, or something like that.
Anyhoo, we are in the middle of the mystery now and the changes I have been working towards are starting to show themselves and soon we’ll find out what that does or doesn’t mean.
Hopefully the clip below will start at about 3:15.
The time arrived last year, but the clarity to see it took a little while longer. This part I walk alone, but that is ok.
I am ready.
