House hunting Stepdad
Thursday, September 11, 2003
I am the coolest guy in the world.
Well, I am. Today made me so. But before I tell you guys exactly how that happened, let me talk about my day.
Work went well, signed a contract for two acres of land in the ritzy part of town. Hopefully, that will go through, I could use the commission. Even besides that, work was good, I got a lot accomplished. But I felt a little edgy, a little restless. I knew it was because today was September 11th, a day I don't think any of us will ever forget. I didn't want to see the tributes, didn't want to hear the speeches, didn't want to watch the TV specials. Not because I'm callous and uncaring. I still get teared up when I see pictures from that day. (Yes, I am 6'4", 240 pounds...so what? I can cry if I want to!) There was a photo exhibition at our local museum that had pictures from 9/11. I got to the fourth, maybe the fifth picture before I couldn't see the pictures very well.
But, it is time to not only remember, but to move on. I'll never forget and will always stop to think of the horror and heroism and lost lives of that day but I don't think I'll be a part of the sensationalism of it anymore.
I spent some time today reading some new favorite Blogs. Namely,
this one. That site rocks. I hope my writing is half as good as hers. I found it through a link on the Musings from the Express Lane Just take a look, that site should charge money. I read the entire site.
Reading about her kids made me realize I haven't done as much with B as I should. One particular problem is that at eight years old, neither me, her Mom, Stepmom or Dad have taken enough time to teach her to ride a bike.
I know I have spent a lot of time with her and doing things for her but the whole bike thing... That was a problem. So, driving home today I decided since it was so beautiful outside (slightly warm instead of oven hot..I love Autumn in Tallahassee!!) I was going to get the training wheel (I took the other off the last time I tried to get her to ride the bike) off and we would learn. I got home and she wasn't home yet but I got the wheel off and soon enough she and her Grandmother got home. She wanted to ride but was a bit scared that we were going without the training wheel. Well, she was even more worried when the small bike's tires were flat and wouldn't air up. So, we used the bike I bought her over a year ago for her 7th birthday, it's 20 inches with no training wheels.
The driveway worked for ohhh two passes then we decided it was too short. The park at the end of the street didn't work at all since the grass was too thick. That left the flat street that ran alongside the park. B hesitantly agreed to do it, only because a neighborhood girl saw us and decided we made a good diversion to simply riding around the neighborhood. She also served as B's motivation since she asked if B was learning to ride and when we said she was asked how old B was. B told her 8 and the girl made a face as if to say 'Oh my gosh, you're 8 and can't ride a bike? I was riding a bike when I was four!' Wait a second...the girl made the face and said that. As soon as she did, I knew B would be riding today. She's pretty competitive.
After some wobbly starts and near falls, pretty soon B was riding the length of the block. She's not my biological daughter, but that means absolutely zip to me. She is my daughter and I taught her to ride her bike.
So, in my own small way, I feel as if I did something to mark 9/11, not with any crying or fear, but with love and pride.
And only a little bit of tearing up. Even the coolest guy in the world can tear up.
|
Well, I am. Today made me so. But before I tell you guys exactly how that happened, let me talk about my day.
Work went well, signed a contract for two acres of land in the ritzy part of town. Hopefully, that will go through, I could use the commission. Even besides that, work was good, I got a lot accomplished. But I felt a little edgy, a little restless. I knew it was because today was September 11th, a day I don't think any of us will ever forget. I didn't want to see the tributes, didn't want to hear the speeches, didn't want to watch the TV specials. Not because I'm callous and uncaring. I still get teared up when I see pictures from that day. (Yes, I am 6'4", 240 pounds...so what? I can cry if I want to!) There was a photo exhibition at our local museum that had pictures from 9/11. I got to the fourth, maybe the fifth picture before I couldn't see the pictures very well.
But, it is time to not only remember, but to move on. I'll never forget and will always stop to think of the horror and heroism and lost lives of that day but I don't think I'll be a part of the sensationalism of it anymore.
I spent some time today reading some new favorite Blogs. Namely,
this one. That site rocks. I hope my writing is half as good as hers. I found it through a link on the Musings from the Express Lane Just take a look, that site should charge money. I read the entire site.
Reading about her kids made me realize I haven't done as much with B as I should. One particular problem is that at eight years old, neither me, her Mom, Stepmom or Dad have taken enough time to teach her to ride a bike.
I know I have spent a lot of time with her and doing things for her but the whole bike thing... That was a problem. So, driving home today I decided since it was so beautiful outside (slightly warm instead of oven hot..I love Autumn in Tallahassee!!) I was going to get the training wheel (I took the other off the last time I tried to get her to ride the bike) off and we would learn. I got home and she wasn't home yet but I got the wheel off and soon enough she and her Grandmother got home. She wanted to ride but was a bit scared that we were going without the training wheel. Well, she was even more worried when the small bike's tires were flat and wouldn't air up. So, we used the bike I bought her over a year ago for her 7th birthday, it's 20 inches with no training wheels.
The driveway worked for ohhh two passes then we decided it was too short. The park at the end of the street didn't work at all since the grass was too thick. That left the flat street that ran alongside the park. B hesitantly agreed to do it, only because a neighborhood girl saw us and decided we made a good diversion to simply riding around the neighborhood. She also served as B's motivation since she asked if B was learning to ride and when we said she was asked how old B was. B told her 8 and the girl made a face as if to say 'Oh my gosh, you're 8 and can't ride a bike? I was riding a bike when I was four!' Wait a second...the girl made the face and said that. As soon as she did, I knew B would be riding today. She's pretty competitive.
After some wobbly starts and near falls, pretty soon B was riding the length of the block. She's not my biological daughter, but that means absolutely zip to me. She is my daughter and I taught her to ride her bike.
So, in my own small way, I feel as if I did something to mark 9/11, not with any crying or fear, but with love and pride.
And only a little bit of tearing up. Even the coolest guy in the world can tear up.
Comments:
Post a Comment
