A teachable moment

Sure, the children aren't kids anymore, but once a father, always a father.

So, we were bowling one afternoon and I said something about the privilege of owning my own bowling shoes. "I don't like sharing bowling shoes with everyone else in town, so I'm glad I own my own."

Yes, I'm a bit of a "germaphobe," as are my two sons. So I wasn't surprised when the youngest one snuck off to the Pro Shop and came back the proud owner of a new pair of bowling shoes. Not only are they new, but they also don't look like the circus shoes that bowling alleys have. Whoops, I used the ancient term for "Family Fun Centers", but that's another blog.

Anyway, Scott bought the shoes as we were leaving so he didn't have a chance to actually use them.

The next day Scott was working, shopping, visiting or something. Anyway, he wasn't around when Derek and I decided to go to Mandan's other bowling alley.

I told Derek he might as well use Scott's new bowling shoes. That way he wouldn't need to put his feet into shoes that have been worn by everyone else in town.

That must have sounded good to Derek, so off we went.

When we got to the bowling alley, we noticed that Scott's shoes still had the price tag on them, and it was snapped on with plastic to the shoe laces. No problem, Derek simply snipped the plastic in two and found that the shoes fit him to a "T."

After a couple of games, Derek tied the shoes back together and placed the price tag back in the laces of the shoes, without the plastic cord.

As we drove home, much to our chagrin, we noticed that mom and Scott were both home.

Never mind, we'll just nonchalantly enter the house, put our bowling balls away and Derek will discreetly take the shoes from his bag and slip them into Scott's. No one will be the wiser.

Well, the plan worked perfectly except that Derek and I couldn't keep a straight face to save our lives. Belinda was asking us what was going on, just as Scott got off the couch and went into the room with the bowling balls to inspect his. There he found his shoes and, he said, "My shoes are still hot. Who's been wearing them?"

Derek admitted that he had worn them, but since they fit him, he would buy Scott a new pair and keep the pair he had worn.

So they left and went back to the family fun center, but there were no more bowling shoes of that size to be purchased.

So, Scott and Derek came back home.

This is where I thought I would provide the teachable moment. You know that thing that your mother teaches you when you are about two: "If it doesn't belong to you, don't touch it."

However, right when I got to the part where I asked Derek, "Did you learn anything today?"

His reply was: "Yeah, don't listen to dad!"

Remembering our loved ones

“Remember, spend time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent. Remember to say, ‘I love you’ to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all, mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.” – George Carlin

There is something about a friendly reminder. A person sharing a reminder is not calling us stupid, but simply reminding us about something that we know, but might have forgotten.

George Carlin was one of my favorite comedians when I was growing up. He looked like an old hippie, but his observations about life showed a great insight into the character of humans. I think he would have been a great guy to hang out with at college, although I’m not sure I would have wanted to share a dorm room with him.

One of my cousins posted this little reminder from the late comedian recently and it got me to thinking about people from my past. As a Christian, I hope to be re-united with these people someday in heaven. But for right now, people like my mom and my grandmas are part of the nostalgia that we cling to as we grow older.

Both of my grandmas were all about family. My Grandma Anderson had two bachelor uncles that lived across the avenue from the home where I grew up. If it was Sunday, Grandma had her two brothers visiting her…not just for an hour in the evening, but for all day.  Grandma Anderson died in 1972 when I was 12 years old. She was born in 1899, so the year was always her age…she died when she was 72. I remember that she was the first person I knew that had sugar diabetes. Since that time, my mom had it and my two brothers have it. My kidney doctor told me I have it but that I’m controlling it with my diet and exercise.

My Grandma was also musically inclined and could strum the guitar. She chewed her nails and was a wonderful cook. I loved to eat whatever she was cooking, especially her cookies and pies. She was also very nice to her grandchildren. I loved to stop at her home when she lived across the street from the hospital. Her home was on my way home from school.

I remember when my Grandma Van Dyke used to live with us. She liked to eat jelly on saltine crackers. I used to eat them with her, but I wouldn’t eat them today. She also had very soft hands. I remember holding her hand when she walked and I was amazed at how soft they were.

My mom was very special to me, but I suppose all moms are special to their children. Mom was also a wonderful cook. She was also a great person to visit with. There wasn’t anyone who didn’t like visiting with her. She had a naturally cheerful disposition and a positive outlook on life. She was also a great one for entertaining company, especially when it was family. I remember having her house full of music with guitars, a banjo and mandolin and her brother Harold blowing on a harmonica. She loved music, and she liked to go to dances and barbecues in Melstone when I was a younger.

There are others that have passed on that have also shaped my life…hopefully for the better. I had favorite professors in college and teachers in school. When I look at photographs from 20 or 30 years ago, there are lots of people that have since died. Like my brother Randy once told me, the people who made the town of Roundup so special to us when we were growing up are now resting in one of the town’s cemeteries.

And as the circle of life progresses, it will be my turn to be the person in the photograph that others are missing. So as we live our lives on earth, let’s be kind to each other, offer a word of praise or thanksgiving…and more importantly, let’s lead Christian lives so when we die from this Earth, we have a new home in heaven to spend eternity. That is my hope and my prayer.