Some years back when things were good and there was an abundance of love and a shortage of problems June told Johnny that she was amazed by how deftly he handled arguments. She said that she found his ability to stay calm and collected to be admirable. He laughed and told her that he wasn’t always as calm as he appeared to be and related how he used to like to try to keep the other side off balance by playing to their emotions.
Initially I had intended to sit out on the balcony and watch the waves break upon the shore. Armed with my laptop, a fishing pole and a bottle of Scotch I was going to write a post that would make your head spin and your heart ache. It wouldn’t have been good this post, it would have been great. It would have  been uplifting, profound and insightful. It would have been the sort of post that made you nod your head and wipe the lonely tears that drift down your cheek. But people plan and god laughs so I didn’t get to write that post.
I didn’t get to sit out on the balcony and watch the sunset nor did I get to enjoy that glass of single malt. Instead I took a group of children, all of whom are related to me and talked about how big the dolphins are and whether I could swim faster than a whale. I shared stories about Superman and Aquaman. We laughed at jokes that I didn’t get but enjoyed for the sole reason that five year olds can be exceptionally funny.
So that super post is doing a little jingle jangle inside my head and the words I had intended to use to describe his bull in a china shop manner are left unsaid. And somewhere out there is a person who would appreciate these words and this tale more than most. Somewhere out there they do whatever it is they do and live however it is they live as do I.
It is one of the great conundrums of my life, this indescribable thing. The question of what to do or what not to do is one that perplexes and vexes me. Promises were made of a nature that I can’t ignore, but the dead of night isn’t the time to think nor consider these things, so I shan’t.
Instead I’ll encourage you to take some time to read one of these recent posts or something from the archives:
- Reflections of The Day- Gratitude
- The Most Valuable Possession
- Pride
- Death and Facebook
- Lean On Me
- Writers Write Right
- A Fool Frolics Freely
- It Is The Relationships…Stupid
- The Words You Read
- You Need Courage To Live
- This Time
- Dreams
- The Race for My Heart
- Somebody To Love
- Words on a Page
- I Won’t Back Down
- Echoes of The Future
- That One Perfect Moment
- The Circumstances of Astrology
- Dancing In The Fire
- Once Upon A Time
- A Letter To A Girl Who Was
- Dear June
- He Put A Gun To My Head
- The Almost Warrior
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TheJackB August 16, 2011 at 10:32 pm
@AFoggyMama What would we do without questions. I’d like to find out one day, but just for a few moments otherwise life would feel dull and unnatural.
TheJackB August 16, 2011 at 10:31 pm
@Billy_Delaney Kids and promises shouldn’t wait, not now, not ever or so I would decree were I king of the world. Those hard laughs are priceless.
AFoggyMama August 16, 2011 at 6:24 pm
What to do? The question of my life as well. I don’t know what you had planned in your head, but I like what I’ve read. As usual.
DaddybyDefault August 16, 2011 at 11:49 am
RE @TheJackB – totally agree with that sentiment @superduperdadny.
superduperdadNY August 16, 2011 at 11:47 am
@TheJackB @daddybydefault Don’t be so modest, Jack. Great post. I look forward to finally reading the one you describe in it, one day…
Billy_Delaney August 16, 2011 at 11:39 am
I’ve got an eight year old. Laughs hard and so do I at all her jokes. Often repeated many times during the day, to the same heavy laughter. You did good, single malt will wait, kids and promises won’t. Billy
TheJackB August 16, 2011 at 10:47 am
@daddybydefault @superduperdadNY I don’t know about that. Just another father like you guys sharing a few stories here and there.
TheJackB August 16, 2011 at 9:15 am
@BruceSallan Hi Bruce. I have very few complaints and chief among them is that as of late my time with the kids has been limited. With so many things going on I am pulled a million different directions.
But I just do the best that I can to try and be present when I am with them. Time passes far too quickly and I know that one day they’ll have other people besides dad to hang out with.
TheJackB August 16, 2011 at 9:13 am
@Al Smith Thanks Al. I liked #gratitudemonday. It is a habit worth developing.
TheJackB August 16, 2011 at 9:12 am
@BetsyKCross They’re funny because they don’t realize that they’re funny. It is always a blast with them.
BruceSallan August 16, 2011 at 6:54 am
Sorry, JB, this post is good, important, and yet again so “from the heart.” As I always say about time with kids, it’s the quantity of time that matters, not that elusive and naive notion of “Quality Time.” You will cherish talking about the dolphins and whales alot more than nursing a hangover. Your kids will remember their dad as “cool” and I just continue to think so, about you, from your writing!
Al Smith August 16, 2011 at 4:08 am
Love the way you write, Jack. This is great. Think I am going to RT your gratitude blog from yesterday.
I loved our first #gratitudemonday. Thanks again.
Al
BetsyKCross August 16, 2011 at 1:44 am
Good one! And I can never understand my 5-yr-old’s jokes. But I laugh ’cause he laughs at himself…