I am really new to this site and to blogging.  I have really enjoyed meeting the people who actively participate here and reading their thoughts on a wild range of topics.  One of the things that has become clear to me is how the people who are active on this site spark each other.  I am nudged and tickled by the emotion and ideas of the blogs I read.  I suppose that seems obvious, but I certainly did not think about it as I began to interact here.  One definition of "inspire" is "to prompt, or cause to be written or said, by influence".  That is spot on for what happens here for me.

Recently several of the people I read have told meaningful stories about their parents.  They have been honest reflections with a mix of love and pain.  These thoughts have led me to think about myself as a father.  I have 2 sons, 14 and 9, who are a riot.  They are normal kids who are happy and healthy.  Being their Dad is thrilling for me.  Make no mistake, I am not implying that they are perfect or that I am an extraordinary parent.  They are good kids and I am doing the best I can...whatever that is.  It can be challenging, but rarely dull.  The challenges have been great learning experiences for me.

I am likely to talk more about them if I continue to write at TPM, but for now this is what I am reflecting upon.  Both of my sons have catch phrases.  Kind of like "Whach you talkin' ' bout, Willis?" or "Eat my shorts, man!".  They each occurred when the boys were young, maybe 4 or 5.  The first one happened when my oldest and I were at a swimming pool.  I was video taping him jumping in and when he came out, he ran up to me and said into the camera..."Dad...I'm a genius am I?"  ....to which I responded..."Yes, son, you am."  That may only be funny to me, but there isn't anything I don't love about that comment.  I have it on film, and it is a moment we both draw on to make each other laugh.  When I drop him off on the first day of school each year I can say "Bud..do you remember what you am?" and he will respond..."Yes, Dad...I'm a genius, am I?"  That's my boy. 

My youngest son has a cool catch phrase, too.  His came about on a camping trip a few years ago and it puts a smile on my face every time I think of it.  We had been at a water park all day.  It was early evening when we arrived back at the camp site and we built a roaring fire.  Peanut(nickname) had just changed into his jeans and as I looked over at him I could see him slowly and carefully backing towards the fire.  It was really funny to watch and I said  "Peanut, watcha doin', man?"  to which he replied  "I'm just cookin' mah pants!".  Gold.  He is going to 50 years old someday still saying that to people in a gravelly voice with a little pause at the end waiting for a reaction.

It is rarely the big choreographed moments that have shaped my life and my relationships.  It has often been the small unexpected crackles and pops which have been significant.  You can't buy those moments in a store or cook 'em in a microwave.  They happen when I am not looking and they echo through my life, quietly sparking and nudging me.  I am finding this site a little like that night from a few years ago.  The things that are shared here are like that roaring fire and we are all kind of backing up toward the fire and letting it warm our backsides.  I think peanut had it right...it feels pretty good to cook my pants a little in the warm glow of a crackling fire.  Thanks to you all for making room for me.