Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Just Like Any Other Kid

Then I remember why we came.

The blue green waters of the Bahamas are stunning. The powder white sand of the beach sucks my feet down to my ankles. The sun blazes on the sea and the breeze is light. It is a picture postcard day.

“That was just fantastic!” a dark skin man said smiling at me yesterday. His hands rested on the shoulders of his daughter, a girl with brown eyes the size of moons.

“It was fun,” I reply as we board the Tender to ferry us back to the Ship.

His eyes were filled with pure bliss and I knew this was the first time he has experienced a beach so pure. We were instant brothers.

It was a quiet evening after a full day in the sun.

While Sarah sleeps, I sip coffee watching as we dock in Nassau trying the count the times I’ve been here. It’s not my favorite Bahamian place but there’s a nice beach a short walk from here which is where we’ll likely end up today.

Last year, I was diving off a concrete Pier with a bunch of kids when a police officer made us stop, giving me a lecture on how a tourist was killed just last week because he didn’t dive correctly. As soon as he left, the kids and I resumed diving off the Pier.

Why am I still such a kid at 57? Every morning when I get up is the beginning of a new adventure. It is an immediate search for what’s fun! Whatever bar was set yesterday must now be surpassed. Yesterday is only a collection of stories that can be dredged up when the occasion calls for laughter. If I did anything wrong yesterday, I try very hard to not do it again today.

I’m much more of a kid now than I was in my 30s or 40s! Then I was trying to make it professionally, be a good example for my kids, fit in the right social circles and care about politics.

I don’t do that stuff anymore. My career was a jigsaw puzzle with no pieces missing though they were not assembled according to instructions. I’m friends with my kids and we have good times when we’re together. The only network I belong to is The Breakfast Club. I could care less about Republicans or Democrats.

What’s really important is playing with my friends!

At dinner last night I asked the girls “Tell me the three things that have meant the most to you in life?”

“When I was born,” said  one.

“Yeah well, it’s hard to top being born,” I replied.

“Riding horses,” shouts another.

“Tell me something I don’t know,” I say to her.

There was a silence as small children struggled with a big question.

“When Mommy married you,” was said matter-of-factly to break calm.

Surprised, I asked, “Really? Why is that?”

“You do things with us,” they said in agreement. “You take us places.”

It was a humbling moment.

Then again, I’m at a place in life when I no longer have to be the parent. There is no need for me to be an authority figure or to have everyone like me. I’m a nice guy, like to make people happy, enjoy poking holes in societal expectations and having fun.

Just like any other kid.