Carpe Diem

While I was blogging about one son buying a Stella Scooter with side car (June 18), another son, was simultaneously shopping at a European Bike store, while his wife waited in the car. He bought the above sporty model a few days later. I like the symmetry of two sons with chips in their heads commandeering them toward motorcycles, although disparate models. A chip inherited from their father, no doubt, who also had a motorcycle and a scooter, neither as fine as either of the sons' choices.

Sons should outshine their fathers.

The weakness in our family system as I see it moving on into the generations, is there was no one to say, "Are you crazy?" "Do you want to have fatherless children?" "Ah, so you bought a bike for your last birthday!" "Shouldn't we be putting money aside for water softener?"

I suspect it was up to me to be that voice, but there is no such voice in my head. I am the one who says, "You should do what makes you happy." "You're only young once." "You deserve to have a little fun." "You earned the money." I even find it hard to say, "Wear your helmet," because there are so many reasons not to wear a helmet.

None of them is grown up.