Aodhan,
I love the time of day between the sunset and total darkness. It has always seemed like some sort of magical in between phase. I guess I like it because that's where I've felt my life and who I am as a person has always been.
If you are anything like me, you will probably find that most of the time, you don't fit in with the majority of society. THAT'S OK! We are a different breed. Kind of like Gonzo from the Muppets. It's taken me years to figure this out, and I hope you figure it out sooner than I did. If you can come to terms with this and view it as an advantage, the world is your oyster.
Being a quick learner and being able to master a variety of things will serve you well if you don't waste it. I'm rambling here, but the best way to describe our situation is to imagine that the vast majority of the world sees the world on a linear path at eye level, People like you and I see it in 3d on a spinning globe. Seeing the world from a different angle will often make you make decisions that will baffle a lot of people.
STICK TO YOUR GUNS! I assure you, I will support you, and I will tell you if I think what you're doing is likely to backfire. Sometimes, when you're old enough(key words here!), you'll probably make a decision that your mom and I will disagree with, but that's the joy of being different and unique. I will also never give you crap about doing crazy stuff to your hair or clothes. Ask grandma about my choices in clothes, music, or hairstyle when I was in high school.
I love you,
Dad
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Sunday, November 7, 2010
I Always Wanted To Be A Father
Aodhan,
I think I always wanted to be a father. Part of it might have been the fact that I was the only guy in a house full of women when I was growing up. I guess one of the cool things about us doing "father-son" stuff is that we will both be experiencing it for the 1st time.
I'm really looking forward to passing on my love of the outdoors and stuff like camping and survival skills to you. The fact that I grew up without a father doesn't necessarily mean that I feel like I was cheated or shortchanged in some way. As I'm sure you will have figured out by the time you read this, your grandma is a pretty awesome lady. In fact, she's the one who taught me the same love for the outdoors I want to teach to you. If I missed anything due to the lack of a father figure, it was more than made up for by the awesomeness of your grandma. You might be taller than her before you reach Junior High, but never doubt for a second that she can still whip your hindparts if you need it.
I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I'm your father a little over two months after your birth, but it gets a little clearer every day i come home from work and you look up at me and smile. I know that when you get to high school, we will probably want to kill each other at some point(genetics is a wonderful thing), but I'll do my best to remember that I was a major pain in the ass when I was that age(just ask your grandma).
I love you,
Dad
I think I always wanted to be a father. Part of it might have been the fact that I was the only guy in a house full of women when I was growing up. I guess one of the cool things about us doing "father-son" stuff is that we will both be experiencing it for the 1st time.
I'm really looking forward to passing on my love of the outdoors and stuff like camping and survival skills to you. The fact that I grew up without a father doesn't necessarily mean that I feel like I was cheated or shortchanged in some way. As I'm sure you will have figured out by the time you read this, your grandma is a pretty awesome lady. In fact, she's the one who taught me the same love for the outdoors I want to teach to you. If I missed anything due to the lack of a father figure, it was more than made up for by the awesomeness of your grandma. You might be taller than her before you reach Junior High, but never doubt for a second that she can still whip your hindparts if you need it.
I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I'm your father a little over two months after your birth, but it gets a little clearer every day i come home from work and you look up at me and smile. I know that when you get to high school, we will probably want to kill each other at some point(genetics is a wonderful thing), but I'll do my best to remember that I was a major pain in the ass when I was that age(just ask your grandma).
I love you,
Dad
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
For Starters
Aodhan,
This is the first in a set of letters I have decided to write to you. I decided to write these letters to you with the hope that perhaps when you are older, they might be able to show you that I was once a regular guy like yourself, not just the cranky old guy who gives you crap about being out too late on Friday night.
Since this is the first letter, I suppose I should offer a little background on how you arrived on the scene. Don't worry - this isn't that kind of letter. I'll spare you that particular talk. I'm sure by now, your mother has told you the story about how the two of us met while attending American University in Washington, DC. Since your mother has edited some of the events, I think it's time you heard my version. Yes, your mom and I met while volunteering on a Habitat for Humanity build. What is not common knowledge, is that I showed up at 5am, still intoxicated from revelry the night before. Your mother was impressed that I stuck it out all day, and while she would probably never admit it, I think she was impressed that I kept my word, despite the circumstances. This brings me to an important point - while alcohol is not inherently bad, I don't recommend drinking a lot at one time. A couple drinks around a table with friends can make for a good time, but a few drinks by yourself makes you an alcoholic. A few drinks behind the wheel can make you dead. More on this subject in another letter.
Back on subject, your mother and I became close friends at school over the next few years, and became more than friends a few years later. We fell in love, got married, and prepared for your arrival(I will talk about your actual arrival in another letter). No worries there either, I won't get all gross about it.
It's been 2 months since your arrival, and everyone pretty much agrees that you are the cutest baby ever. Just don't let it go to your head. You cry sometimes, but you probably got that genetically from me. You are very inquisitive and always look around as you try to figure this new world out.
In future letters, I will tell you more about what I was like at your age, along with stuff I wish people would have told me - not that you'll listen any more than I did. That's genetic too. You're welcome.
I love you,
Dad
This is the first in a set of letters I have decided to write to you. I decided to write these letters to you with the hope that perhaps when you are older, they might be able to show you that I was once a regular guy like yourself, not just the cranky old guy who gives you crap about being out too late on Friday night.
Since this is the first letter, I suppose I should offer a little background on how you arrived on the scene. Don't worry - this isn't that kind of letter. I'll spare you that particular talk. I'm sure by now, your mother has told you the story about how the two of us met while attending American University in Washington, DC. Since your mother has edited some of the events, I think it's time you heard my version. Yes, your mom and I met while volunteering on a Habitat for Humanity build. What is not common knowledge, is that I showed up at 5am, still intoxicated from revelry the night before. Your mother was impressed that I stuck it out all day, and while she would probably never admit it, I think she was impressed that I kept my word, despite the circumstances. This brings me to an important point - while alcohol is not inherently bad, I don't recommend drinking a lot at one time. A couple drinks around a table with friends can make for a good time, but a few drinks by yourself makes you an alcoholic. A few drinks behind the wheel can make you dead. More on this subject in another letter.
Back on subject, your mother and I became close friends at school over the next few years, and became more than friends a few years later. We fell in love, got married, and prepared for your arrival(I will talk about your actual arrival in another letter). No worries there either, I won't get all gross about it.
It's been 2 months since your arrival, and everyone pretty much agrees that you are the cutest baby ever. Just don't let it go to your head. You cry sometimes, but you probably got that genetically from me. You are very inquisitive and always look around as you try to figure this new world out.
In future letters, I will tell you more about what I was like at your age, along with stuff I wish people would have told me - not that you'll listen any more than I did. That's genetic too. You're welcome.
I love you,
Dad
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