No Free Toys on Sunday Either! (HOL 79)

House of Laughter 79

Thank you to all the people who ask me if I am still blogging. I’ve started to write several entries in the last month, but am either uninspired, or read what I wrote and feel like such a whiner. The other main reason I haven’t written is that we are in the transition to real underpants. Now don’t get me wrong, there is plenty of drama, suspense, tragedy, and hilarious body functions when it comes to Isaac wearing his new underwear, but A) I hate it when other people talk about their kids or animals crapping and B) All of the pervs on the internet googling terms like “underwear” and “poop” could end up here, and that is just creepy.

We had a lovely weekend. On Thursday night, Nancy and I got a babysitter and went to see the new play at Triad Stage called “Bloody Blackbeard” Evidently the sitter read the Dr. Seuss story about the Scary Green pants, because that is one of his new favorites. It’s a goofy little story about a pair on uninhabited green pants that are a little scary at first, but turn out to be okay once you get to know them. When I read it, I try to make it as scary and serious as possible, and Isaac loves it.

Friday night, we went to a friends house for a little party. We arrived around six, and the party was mostly breaking up by 8:00 because many of the attendees have children. I remember when we used to be fun….

Saturday morning we went and worked around the church for a couple of hours, and when we were done, we went downtown to “Chik-Fil-A” because they were having “Superhero Day”. We met Ironman and Hulk out in front of the restaurant. There were comic book posters decorating the walls, and a spider web with your friendly neighborhood spiderman hanging from it. Up near the registers there was a basket of candy, a box of free comic books, and a large plastic tub filled with dollar store bric-a-brac adorned with comic book characters. There were coloring books, kites, masks, and other small treats. The other kids in the restaurant were helping themselves to the toys. I told Isaac if he finished his meal, he could pick out a treat as well. He finished his meal, and we went up to the bucket to pick out a treat, and the woman behind the counter said “You can’t take those.”

“Excuse me?”

“I don’t know what they are doing with them. I think they are having a drawing or something.”

“Every other kid who has been here has taken something out of this basket. There aren’t any signs or anything, and it’s sitting on the floor right next to the box of free comics!” My voice raised slightly, and Nancy started to get embarrassed. There were maybe a dozen people in the store. I told Isaac loudly, “Sorry buddy, you aren’t allowed to get a treat, the other kids were, but not you.”

“Well he can have some candy from on top of the table”

“I don’t want to accidentally pick something he can’t have.” At this point, Nancy is heading for the door. A kid sheepishly offered Isaac a package of Batman candy and we left. As we left, the employees were hiding the basket of treats under a table.

We walked down Elm street to Triad Stage. They were having “Pirate Day”. In addition to “Bloody Blackbeard”, they are doing a kid’s show called “Redbeard’s School for Pirates”. They had pirate related activities, a story teller, music, people in elaborate pirate costumes, and we got to go show Isaac the really incredible “Shipwreck” set from “Blackbeard”.

In case you are wondering, no we didn’t have a camera for any of the above. The day just unfolded, and it’s just as well I didn’t have a camera, as I would have been worried about trying to “capture” the moment instead of living in it.

After church Sunday, we went to some friends’ house for lunch, and since it was Father’s day, I got to pick what we did for the afternoon. We went to Celebration Station and played mini-golf, and rode Go-Karts. Isaac and I rode the two person Kart, and that was really the highlight of my day. He was both terrified and excited all at the same time, and for just a few minutes it was crystal clear what it meant to be a father. Even though he was scared, he was still having the time of his life because he was sitting next to his Daddy. I’m not Ironman, or Chewbacca, or even Edna Turnblad, but he was elated to be riding with me, because he knew we were driving fast and wild, but I wouldn’t let him get hurt.

I didn’t need a camera to remember that moment for the rest of my life.

We finished the day by going to see “The Incredible Hulk” movie. Near the end of the movie, Hulk fights with a giant monster called “Abomination” in the comic books. Nancy was confused when Isaac was summarizing the movie later and said “Hulk was fighting a Rancor Monster.”

I explained to Nancy that the Rancor was the monster that lived under Jabba the Hutt’s throne room. “He came up with that on his own?” I nodded semi-proudly. Nancy said “Our poor son will never have a date or get married.” Later I confided to him, “Just find a really cute smart girl who doesn’t know how cute or smart she is. It worked for your old man.”

Strength and Honor.

Big Matt