Keeping Up with Current Events

What a ride we're on, Conor...  Realizing I continually reference the idea that the last year has absolutely flown by, what's more interesting are the phases you're going through whilst it does.  Watching you go from preemie, to infant, to baby, to toddler has been more than an experience, it's been an honor.  And each passing day would see you develop into something a little bit more than the day before...

Now-a-days you're looking much more like a little boy than a helpless baby.  You're growing fast, moving quickly, eating anything we put in front of you, and developing your coordination such that everything is becoming a point of curiosity and equally so, a point of potential trouble.  Taking eyes off of you for only mere moments could see you into the one thing in the room that you're not supposed to be getting into; whatever that may be.  Yes sir, it's a laugh a second!  If not completely terrifying...  But certainly all part of it...

Anyway, there's truly not a lot to say at this juncture, Boy'O!  But the pictures, well, they speak a thousand words.  And more than words, your adoring public needs pictures!

Love you, Boy...

-Dad

A Day in the Life

Wow, Son!  What a day!  With your Uncle Paul out of town the last several days and your Aunt Jennifer in need of some adult companionship, your mother made her way to their house last night for a bite to eat some good girl talk; something I would know nothing about.  Never the less, she stayed the night at Uncle Paul and Aunt Jen's, and so we boys were left to fend for ourselves!

Being quite confident in myself as a parent, I didn't have a concern in the World.  We had a nice dinner, you had a hot bath, I read you a quick story (I read you a short written by Earnest Hemingway called "Oklahoma"), and off to sleep you went.  Graciously you decided to sleep in today not really waking up to the point of hollering until just after 7:00am.  Once you were up, so too was the whole house! dogs and all...  Easy enough though, I put you in your chair, gave you a bottle, turned on some music, and took to tightening up the house, walking the dogs, making my coffee, and just generally shuffling around wiping the sleep from my eyes.  And all the while you sat in your chair, drinking your milk, not saying a word...  Content as could be.  Such a good boy.

It was a truly easy morning.  Mommy finally came home and decided to sit down and feed you while I worked on a variety of projects around the house; fixing a door, hanging a mirror, and just generally straightening up.  Though after you had your breakfast and I made Mommy and my breakfast, I got my time to relax when your mother took you up for your morning nap and decided to join you!  Ahhh, peace.  At 10:30am, I was watching a movie and breathing really easy.  An exceptionally uncommon Sunday!  Especially in these times...

Though when you and Mommy were back up and moving, given the lovely weather we're having for a January day (60 degrees and sunny!) the decision was made to go for a walk, Son.  In your new Radio Flyer wagon!  Compliments of Memeow and Grandpa K9 no less... So we made our way to the park for you to spend some time in the swing.  Then we made our way to the grocery store to pick up a few things for lunch.  Then we made our way through the neighborhood to soak up the Sun.  An excellent walk!  And as if that weren't enough, we were just getting warmed up!

A special treat awaited, though unbeknownst to us all, in that I received a phone call from my friend and business partner, Jason Riffel, as he and his little girl, Lucy, were making their way to the movie theater and asked if we wanted to join!  Seeing as how your attention span is somewhere South of 14 seconds, I passed, but I did invite Jason and Lucy to come by after the movie!  Thought it'd be fun to see you have someone to play with, and so they did!  You and Lucy had a blast no doubt, but then, as if it couldn't get any better, Aunt Jen brought the boys over too!!

There we were, equal numbers children to adults, and the children were most definitely winning.. MADNESS ensued as you and your three cousins and friends crawled around banging toys together, laughing, screaming... It was as much fun as I could imagine having with 4 toddlers, and the conversation was equally as good.

Jason and Lucy would eventually head out and Aunt Jen, Nate, and Andrew all stuck around for dinner.  I prepared a roast rack of pork, Mommy made Southern green beans and corn bread, and finished the night off with chocolate chip cookies.  I'll tell you, Son... For as much as I got done today (I've not really stopped moving until only now!), I had as much fun hanging out with you and our friends as I've had in some time.  And considering the previous three stressful days, it was both welcomed and needed.

I suppose if I wanted, I could make every day this good!  It's all a matter of perspective, Son.  So I'll tell you what, I will try.  And with your help, I think we can get there!

I love you, Conor... What a fun day!
-Dad

The Knowing...

Life is invariable on only one thing, Conor; how much it actually varies... And the best part of that is coming to grips with the understanding that you will quite literally learn something new every single day. It's kind of treat if you look at it in the right light!

I have no disillusion you'll one day proclaim to know it all.  We all do.  But that only happens because, though you may begin to know yourself, you irrevocably know nothing of anybody or anything else. Wisdom can only be gained through time and experience, and as you'll no doubt learn, the more wisdom you gain, the less you proclaim to know...

I've not come to this train of thought through some Earth shattering discovery, Son.  In fact, quite the opposite.  Now and again you'll have things in your life that will rear up on you as though an unbroken horse deciding to misbehave just when you settle into the saddle.  In reality, you already know the horse is going to buck, it's only a matter of time.  But if ignored, when he rears his head and decides to test you, if you're not paying attention you end up with a broken nose and a busted ego.

Yes Boy'O, something I suppose I've always known was just trotting down the trail and I was riding along as though the pasture was just around the bend, to keep the unbroken horse metaphor.  Though as predicted, the bastard bucked and BAM, two black eyes...  Inexplicably this puts me in a bad mood because, Heaven forbid I take responsibility for the obvious; I always knew that damn horse was going to buck, but I ignored it none the less, paid the price, and got what was coming to me...

Again, it's nothing of any real consequence, just something I'd been ignoring for some time simply for the fact that I didn't want to deal with it.  Though of course, after ruining my night last night, and likely your Mother's, by being an irritable bear, I woke up this morning and addressed the issue as I should have done long before I started ignoring it in the first place.  But these are those lessons, Son.  And they're the reason I'm writing to you at all.

Inevitably you're going to make your own mistakes and learn from them, but as parents we're tasked with giving you all the advice and instruction we can so as to help you in avoiding the same.  It never really works, but the effort is made willingly, happily, and in the hopes you take away some small part of the instruction and / or advice.  So let this be a lesson to you, Conor.  When you know that horse is gonna buck, you can still take that ride!  But don't be surprised when he throws you because you were either to lazy to break him, or to proud to think that you had to...

That's all for tonight, Boy'O.  I'm gonna turn back to my cocktail and a bit of relaxation before turning in.  But I'll leave you with this, Son.  Make good decisions and you'll be just fine.  Though if you don't, realize it's nobody's fault but your own, take responsibility, learn from it, and move on.  It's all we can do.

I love you, Conor...
-Dad

Fast Times, Here We Go

Wow Conor, have the days gone flying by...  While working to get this company off the ground, managing the day to day chores of our small suburban life, satisfying social commitments, and of course, working and playing with you in every moment spared from the rest, it seems each day ends as soon as it starts...

It's interesting how quickly life seems to move around us, Conor.  And you know, Son, I've often said I subscribe to the notion of taking stock.  Slowing it down once in a while!  Breathe it all in and try, really try, to not let it get past you.  Though try as I may it sometimes does.  Still, with you at least there's a hell of a lot more focus.  Certainly a commitment to TRY and not miss anything!  And so I do...

Just this afternoon your Mom forwarded me a couple of videos from her phone of you when you were just turning 9 months old.  Seems like ages ago and yet, it was only yesterday.  Never the less, I watched these videos and started in amazement as I realized how very different you are from only four months ago.  Everything from movements to speech and communication, and even how you look...  Your jaw is so much more pronounced. Your grin is much toothier!  You're a good 30% bigger.  And boy 'o boy are you a lot quicker!  And it was only yesterday.

Still, modern technology affords us the opportunity to quickly and easily reflect.  Through pictures, videos, emails, and even these blogs.  They're great and convenient points to come back to whenever I need to be humbled.  They're wonderful keepsakes for those days when things just don't seem to go like they should.  They're memories from the road we're on and reminders to stay straight and true.  Yes Conor, these little electronic images and simple words can mean so much, and so I press on.  Never looking back, though always remembering.  And ever optimistic for the great things to come.

I heard just the other day, "What a wonderful thought it is that some of the best days of our lives haven't happened yet."  And while I can't be sure who first said it, I'd like to shake their hand.  Because there is no question at all to me that the best is yet to come, and so the person who said that just may know a thing or two...

Off to bed, Son.  More of the World needs conquering tomorrow.

I love you always,
-Dad

Whatever Makes You Happy

You know Conor, a lot of things change in life; nothing ever stays the same.  And those changes can happen quite a bit faster than we would sometimes like or are comfortable with... Then, there are the changes that you can't make fast enough...

On December 21st, 2012, I quit my job.  Just wrote a resignation letter, walked in to my boss' office, and quit.  It was liberating to say the least, though terrifying at the same time...  I'd never been so abrupt in making a decision as it relates to my way to earn a living.  My livelihood.  It was a huge gamble when considering the viability and sustainability of our family.  Especially given where we live; one of the most expensive regions of the country where the cost of living is exponentially higher than better than two thirds of the country.  Yes Son, to live in the Washington DC Metropolitan area, comfortably and accustomed to how we live, a dual income is almost certainly necessary.

I made such a brash move in the decision to join up with my long time friend and colleague, Jason Riffel, that it shook me all the way through the Christmas and New Year holiday season...  Though when January 2nd, 2013 rolled around, it was time to get to work...

Why is this pertinent?  Because professionally speaking, I've never been happier in my life!  What once seemed to be a step off a ledge has become something far more exciting, not to mention fulfilling.  Going to work is a joy in fact.  A place to work with a friend and colleague.  A place to work creatively and openly.  A place to collaborate, have fun, and listen to music.  This son, is what I was made for!

Granted, it's taken me to being close to 40 years old to make such a bold move and certainly, were I have to done it as a younger man there would have been far less to risk.  However, there's an old expression I've had rattling around in my head since all this began... "Youth is wasted on the young."  Ain't it the truth, Boy'O...  Never the less, there's only one person to blame if I fail, Son, and that's yours truly.  Because the product Jason has built is outstanding!  Now it's only a matter of marketing and selling it... And so some day, hopefully sooner than later, this little risk pays off.

Follow your dreams, Conor.  No matter what they are...

I love you, Son.
-Dad

The Hammer and the Nail

Conor my boy, being strong is important.  Strong of mind, strong of will, strong of body, and strong of heart.  Those strengths will protect you when you're feeling weak, and believe me, you'll have those days.  Life is rife with disappointments...  Some greater than others but disappointments none the less...  However, so much more of life are the victories; despite the disappointments that loom.  Never the less, some days you're the hammer, others, you're the nail...

Today was a day when your old man was a nail, Son.  Through and through.

After the Redskins laying an egg last night I came home and went straight to bed.  I wasn't interested in listening to the jock sniffing talking heads, I wasn't interested in highlights, I wasn't interested in celebrating the season, I just wasn't interested at all...  Of course though, I don't ordinarily go to bed at 9:00pm, in fact closer to midnight if not later... So falling asleep at that time would see me waking up at 4:30am, and when I say waking up, I mean I was WIDE awake, totally unable to get back to sleep.  A mild disappointment, but a disappointment none the less...  Not so bad though.  Things are still good and so I go about getting my day started.

The next disappointment however, came by way of a truck that wouldn't start.  In fact, she wouldn't DREAM of starting!  Now THAT is disappointing!  After 45 minutes of dealing with that mess I finally got the Tahoe started and off we went to get you to school...  Running late, truck acting funny.  Is it the battery?  Is it a short?  Stress...

Hammer, hammer, hammer, hammer... Deeper in the nail goes.  And it's not even 10:00am.

I don't mean to complain, Conor.  Truly.  And in fact I'm sure that's exactly what this looks like - whining!  But there's a moral to the story, Son.  Strength...

The day went on and disappointment after disappointment smashed into me as the head of the nail...  The truck continued to act up, I couldn't get my way clear on some things with my work, I didn't feel well, it was a dreaded Monday...  But then I was forced to remember, I'm strong.  Very strong.

Taking stock in who you are and what you have when you feel like a piñata at a little league baseball party is what it's all about, Boy'O.  Life will ever try and knock you down and you most certainly will not always get what you want, but when you look at who and what matters and you make adjustments, scratches, and corrections, you realize quickly how easy it is to right the ship.  Just stay true to yourself, Conor.  Don't ever compromise what you want for what you have.  Work through adversity and on the bad days, and the good days will be great.  And when you come across those who can't follow that philosophy, push them aside and move on.  No thing, no job, and certainly no person should ever get the best of you.  Not ever.

So today was a lousy Monday, Son.  But tomorrow will be a great Tuesday.  Life will come back into focus, and the prize will be won, if only you have the courage of your convictions and the strength to see it through.

I love you, Conor.  Always.
-Dad