By Dave Markwell
Freshly showered wearing clean socks, I await the arrival of my son. I just returned from an early morning oil change and gas-up. I grabbed my tool bags from work, too. Back home, I let the damn dogs out again and filled my coffee cup again, too. Now, I wait, fresh and cozy with my face in the sun coming through my big windows aimed at my yellow chair. It’s going to be a fine day.
I was in bed early and slept well and had good dreams. I did my chores this morning and feel like I’m ahead. My baby boy and I are heading to my mom’s for the day. She has a couple of small projects for me, but mostly it will be a nice visit with her and my sweet aunt. My son and I will enjoy the hour drive, chatting and catching up and remembering and dreaming. This will probably be my favorite part of the day.
Later, we’ll construct a shelf project he’s been noodling on. And, here I’ll just be dad- with a little knowledge and some experience and some perspective and the right tools. And, hopefully, more patience than he may be accustomed to. I’ve changed. I’m not in the same hurry I seemed to be when he was a young boy in our home.
While this shift may have come too late for maximum benefit, it’s better to arrive late than never, like many things. And, without some regret, we may never learn or change or grow. Without missing it, and knowing what we missed, we can never get it. And, this is no good at all. So, I’d rather get it late than not get it at all. Getting it, more fully and more honestly, makes the missing it kind of a gift, even if it doesn’t feel like it all the time. But, some gifts are wrapped funny.
Photo credit: Robin Malmanger
Dave Markwell is a life-long Des Moines liver and lover. Former owner of Waterland CrossFit and the Waterland Arcade, Dave uses his unique story-telling voice to help small businesses tell a better story, and his love for people to help folks live bigger and better lives.
For more info, check out his website: wordsbydave.net
