Knuckle Head

Knucklehead

So this morning I got out of the shower, put my towel on and went downstairs to get something out of the laundry room. My kids were downstairs eating breakfast and as I went in, I heard my youngest say "I saw Dad wearing a Man-skirt!"
Knucklehead.

7 Years

My oldest son turned 7 today. It doesn't seem right. I remember when he was born, feeling so inadequate and feeling like I had no idea how to be a dad. I guess you learn on the job.
I am so proud of the boy he is. He is generous and thoughtful. He is smart and curious. He is excited about life and loves to laugh. He is a good big brother and a well behaved son. He likes to dance when he thinks no one is watching. He likes to sing when he thinks no one is listening. When we ride to school in the morning, he is content in the back seat just thinking and looking out the window. He asks the occasional question or asks whether or not I remember a certain scene from a movie we have watched together, but mostly he is quiet. He is always thinking.
7 years.

A River Runs Through It

Last night I got out my favorite movie. A River Runs Through It. It is the story of Norman and his brother Paul, the sons of a Presbyterian minister growing up in early 1900s Montana. I saw it a couple years ago on t.v. and enjoyed the scenery and the fishing. My wife got it for me for Christmas last year on DVD. Watching it now I love it because I connect emotionally with it on 4 levels. I relate as a father, watching two sons grow up. I relate as a son wanting to make a father proud, and I relate as a brother. I relate to the characters' love of nature and fly-fishing as well. It is a beautiful story of love, family and loss set in the beauty of pristine Montana. If you've never seen it, I would highly recommend it.

"Eventually all things merge together, and a river runs through it."

Good times

So I'm loving this winter weather! I am taking a few vacation days staying around home and couldn't be happier about all the snow. It's always a little nicer when you don't have to drive in it (even when I do have to drive in it, I have a Jeep). The fam and I just finished building a pretty incredible snow fort and then put it to good use with a snowball fight. The cold reminds me of living in Bend which has awesome winter weather. Good times.

Man Skirt

We went to the Puyallup fair last night. As we were walking to the entrance, a guy wearing a kilt walked past us. I totally want to get a kilt because I hear they are comfortable. I probably wouldn't wear it in public like at church or anything like that but still. My 6 year old said "Dad I know what that skirt is called." I said "Oh yeah?" He said "Yeah, it's called a 'Man Skirt'.

Kids are great.

Weird

I turned down a fishing trip on a blue ribbon trout river tonight. I was planning on going but when I sat down and thought about it, I just wasn't that excited about it. I would rather stay home and be with my family than get up at 5am and catch fish. I wonder if this is what growing up feels like. Whatever it is, it feels weird.

Breaking Home Ties

I saw this painting for the first time a couple months ago in a news story. The original was found behind a fake wall in the home of a man who had died. It is called "Breaking Home Ties" by Norman Rockwell.
There are a few things that struck me about this painting when I first saw it. First, the detail in the painting is amazing. The contrast in the old, weathered face and hands of the father and the youthful excitement in the face of the boy headed off to college. The man seems like the type who has lived by the sweat of brow for a long time. He strikes me as the kind of man who will see his son off with a handshake instead of a hug. Notice that the boy is looking for the train and the old man is looking back toward home.
Looking at this picture today I noticed something I hadn't before; The old man is holding his hat in his hand but he is also holding the boy's hat. His last attempt to hold on to his son. Maybe he knows that he won't see him again for a long time. maybe he knows that his son will not follow in his footsteps.
I have at least 12 years until this scene becomes a reality for me but it hits home.

What do you see?