Forgive me if this gets silly (and slightly long), but I do have a point. First,...
Yesterday, I taught my sons to ski!!! More accurately, probably, I got the heck out of the way and allowed my sons to discover skiing. I made the realization first with my younger son, Zeke. I was experimenting with different ways to teach a child to ski when finally he said, "Daddy, could you get out of my way so that I could ski?" That was that. Away he went. He did not look back. My youngest son was now a skier.
Zeke was giving me the "one more" routine that always makes my heart melt, but I knew time and the approaching rain were not on my side. I wanted to teach my older son, Silas, to ski today also. I know you are thinking "Fool! Don't be so ambitious." But...
We went home to tell Mom and Silas about out great success. Silas was excited. He wanted to ski, also. So, we got dressed, went up to the mountain, and gave it our best shot. Silas did well on his first trip down the mountain. He was ready for a second trip as we got on the chair lift, but then it began to rain. Hard. Freezing rain. Real Hard. "Daddy, would you mind if we went home?" Nope.
So we went home and told Mommy, and she was very proud. I was still beaming after we had put the boys to bed. I now had two skiing buddies. Being a Dad, there are good days, and there are bad days. But, every now and then, you have an awesome day. Yesterday was one of those awesome days. In this reverie, I told my wife, Liz, that I needed one more day with them skiing separately, and then, they should be ready to ski with me at the same time.
It was at this point that my wife informed me that her college friends were getting together today. Speak no more. I told her that I would take both boys skiing at the same time tomorrow. Really? Are they ready for that? Are you ready for that? We'll manage. Enjoy your day.
Well, I woke up this morning a little stiff but otherwise ok. My wife and I were rehashing our conversation from the night before when the boys burst into our bedroom. Liz told the boys that they were going to get to go skiing with me at the same time today. At this point, my boys, who were buck naked, jumped onto the bed and burst into song. "We are go-ing ski-ing! We are go-ing ski-ing! We are go-ing ski-ing! To which, I sighed, "Great, ski trips have now become musicals." To which, Liz said, "Come here boys. Repeat after me, 'Fortune Favors the Brave!'"
Ahh yes. "Fortune Favors the Brave" is the very silly musical number in the musical "Aida" that the prison guards sing. After taking my wife to see "Aida" on Broadway for her Christmas present a few years ago, I found myself singing the song while I skied. Skiing seems to inspire a certain degree of silliness in me(and my sons.)
But I digress, the boys and I had a great day today. Both boys skied great. They got many props from the amazed skiers and boarders on the mountain. To watch them stand at the top of the mountain, look down, and then push themselves down the hill brought tears to my eyes. Skiing can be terrifying to the beginner. To watch my sons conquer that fear to ski is beyond words. I have had many great days on the side of a mountain, but none surpasses today. Ok, yesterday was close, but today was king.
Today, as I lay down with my youngest son for his nap, I thought about our great day of skiing. It then occurred to me that today was my Dad's last day. After 43 years in business, my Dad is finally retiring. For a man of action, retirement is going to be interesting. Then, I thought about my own run for Congress. Sometimes it takes babes to remind us that "Fortune Favors the Brave." Good Luck to you in the New Year. Remember...
For more information on my campaign, please check out my website http://www.tonybarr2008.com Thank you.