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DAD DAYS TO GRANDDAD AND BEYOND

Dad days never end, and I’m glad. I didn’t sign up for the part time version. There wasn’t a switch to throw for the eighteenth birthday that said, ‘I’m done.’ I’ve been a dad since my first born, then doubled up with my second. Since then a few surprises joined up, just not those surprises.

BIG DECISIONS ARE TOO HARD?

Big decisions come every day, one fastball after another. In the game of life, you stand in and take your cuts. You might get on base, you might strike out. Or you might opt out of the whole thing? Wait a minute.

SHAPE UP. THEN WHAT?

Shape up. I’ve told myself that more than once. I’ve also looked at others and said the same thing. To myself. Most of the time.

FANCY PEOPLE, BUT NOT TOO FANCY

My wife and I are not fancy people, but one of us is more than the other. As it should be, as long as it’s not me. I’ve seen fancy and come away with the same feelings each time: No Thanks.

COMPARISON CULTURE: BETTER THAN WHAT?

Comparison culture didn’t start with social media, but that’s where it found fertile ground. Baby Boomers and every generation before, all had the same comparison: My Dad is better than your dad. What comes after that? Maybe a fight.

DOING MORE? MORE WHAT?

‘Doing more’ is the vibe hanging over me, maybe you too. ‘Make your time count.’ ‘Give your all.’ ‘Don’t waste your energy.’

LETTING IT FLY? WHERE ARE THE WINGS

‘Letting it fly’ is another way of saying, ‘Is that all you’ve got?’ One of my goals in life is not backing down to fear. Am I afraid of a famous tea room? Yes, but I let it fly. How did I get over this unreasonable fear? I had help.

WEIRD PEOPLE? LIKE WHO

  Weird people you know invite you over for a backyard barbecue. That’s the scene. What could go wrong? They pull this out: Hearts and Gizzards. Let the grilling begin.

BEST OF TIMES, WORST OF TIMES, THEN WHAT

After living through the best of times, there’s only one way to go. What’s better than the best? The correct answer is nothing, but that’s not the answer you’ll get from drunks and drug addicts. It’s hard to tell any time when you’re numbed to reality.

EXERCISING RIGHTS FOR BETTER LIVING

Exercising rights are a mental thing; also a physical thing. The mental part is realizing the benefits of the physical thing. How often has someone doubted the benefits of either? When they do cast doubt, they do it from a couch eating bonbons.