I’ve talked a lot here on the Dad Poet blog about how proud my sons make me. But I hope you’ll indulge me in another proud pops post. Pops, that’s what Jo, my oldest calls me. “Does it make you feel old?” he asks.
“Yes,” I reply.
“Seriously?”
“No, not really. I kinda like it.”
And I do actually. It’s better than “old man,” and it has more endearing connotations. He’s doing a great job at school, and he’s hard on himself, so I don’t have to be. He’s got student teaching coming up again really soon, and I know that will be weighing on his mind. But honestly, he’ll do splendidly.
Jon just calls me Dad, and I like that too. It seems–I don’t know–it just sounds so sincere when he says it. Sometimes he doesn’t say much for some time, and then unloads a whole lotta information at once. Those conversations are the best. It seems to me that there is another concert coming up soon, and we have more college prep talk to do, and he’s eager to go, so there will be lots to talk about this fall.
And Micah, well, Micah calls me “some loony poet down the river.” And I like that too. It takes a good writer to show respect whilst poking fun at the same time. And how can I not be proud of that? He reminded me this week, amid all the questions about why I am writing, and why we are reading at the State Capitol (“Do you have a political agenda?” the interviewer asks). Why else do we do this except that it brings us joy? It makes us happy. “It’s fun.” Thanks for that reminder, Monkey Man. I feel my shoulders relax now when you put it in perspective like that.
Yeah. Pops is proud.
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- Proud (gorzyisms.wordpress.com)
David J. Bauman 
Now that’s a good photo!
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Tee hee. An inspired moment that was. Had to catch it on the phone camera. 🙂 I’m glad you liked it. Thanks!
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you have just made my morning, such a great picture and a strong family unit
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Aw, how sweet of you to say that. Thank you, Bruce.
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I like a proud parent 🙂 Not too proud – not enough to hide them from the police or anything; but proud of their accomplishments, great or small.
Love this picture, but the star, for me, is the urinal in the corner 🙂
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Haha, well, yes, let’s hope we never have to do that, hide them from the police. 🙂 And yes, it’s quite clear we were just pissing round that day, isn’t it? 🙂
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the world needs to see guys laughing together and being goofballs. it’s good for us. thanks for raising good and gentle men! so different. so fun.
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Ah, thank you, Ann! That’s when I think that we must have done something well, because they are such good people, those three young men. Thank you.
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And rightly so 🙂
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🙂
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Micah seems cool. Well, he’s my age, and a writer, and whatnot.
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And don’t let his sarcastic sense of humour fool you. He’s got a heart of gold. 🙂
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You have every right to be proud! My Dad always said, “Raising kids is like chewing on stones!” which reflect how little encouragement parents have in today’s world… so you can certainly be proud of the amazing things you’re doing with the greatest event life can bring.
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Well, they are just awesome boys, and their mother is pretty amazing too. 🙂
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Hi, Sonofwait. My folks were married for 78 years… They passed away at the grand old age of 95… and hadn’t been separated for all those years. Once my Mom went, my Dad passed away a few days after he heard the news in the nursing home. These bonds are something rare and marvelous…. and finding yourself with this treasure in your hands, I’m so enjoying that you know how to bring out the joy in it all. that’s an art!
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Hey, I wanted to say that I’m glad your commenting problem got worked out! 🙂
Now, keep in mind, when I say they have a great mother, you have to understand that I am no longer married to her. She and I are good friends though.
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Always nice to read a Proud Pop post.
I’m loving the photo — it’s like 1980s all over again. 🙂 All you need is Molly Ringwald in the photo to make it an 80s movie poster. 🙂
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oooh, I wonder if Molly ever hung around the urinals! 😮
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Cool shades.
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Thank you. It’s because their future is so bright.
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