Happy Pre-Father's Day

I don't understand people who buy brand new cars.

The moment they drive the spiffy little model off the lots it depreciates by 1/3.

Plus the new owner spends a tremendous amount of time and energy keeping the new car NEW which, in spite of the most valiant effort, is doomed.

Climbing in and out of the car means grass and dirt grind in the carpet, bugs hit the windshield and that wonderful new car smell evaporates while new unexplainable odors appear.

This is why I've long been a proponent of "pre-dented" vehicles.

Sure they may cost a little more but it saves you all the worry and consternation of the first dent on your new car.

Just as there's no such thing as a perfect life, cars don't stay perfect for very long either.

It was with great surprise then that I received a "Pre-Father's Day" card yesterday.

I had no idea such things existed.

It was custom made by hand by Sarah's middle daughter Laurel who I've been carting back and forth all week to paddle board camp.

Honestly we've been miffed at one another most of the week.

She's a ten year old who knows everything, hates to get up in the morning to actually attend paddle board camp and then it's somehow my fault for making her go against her will when she's the one who's wanted to attend since last year!

Sarah was gone with her two other girls and I was responsible for taking Laurel to meet them after paddle board camp.

Of course Laurel did not want to go and fired excuses at me as though her mouth is a machine gun that never needs reloading.

I stomp my foot down telling her to get ready so she busies herself while I remind myself I'm the adult.

After dropping her off by slowing down to 35 miles per hour and thrusting her out of the car to Sarah, I return to the peace and quiet of home and ... discover my "Pre-Father's Day" card tenderly laying on my pillow.

"Well Hell," I say out loud reading that she loves me and thanks me for everything I do.

You can never figure kids out. Just when I have her where I want her ... meaning gone! ... she does the sweetest thing, touches my heart and I miss her.

Well ... until Sarah got home and kid-less for the first time in weeks, we quickly busied ourselves with other, long overdue activities.

I'll thank Laurel after the fact when she gets back home tomorrow night.

A Good Day

I didn't have to but I kept the normal schedule today, left "The Breakfast Club" at 7 am and made my way home.

Sarah's girls don't have school today so I could have lingered, enjoying the company and being out with people which is a rare thing working from home.

Strolling into the dark house, Goddess and Gypsy follow me into the kitchen so I can give them treats and let them outside.

Turning, I hear a door open and the 7 year old sleepily stumbles to me ... blond hair askew ... wearing her "Monsters High" bathrobe and carrying the "Ferbie" her mother gave her for Easter ... Cassidy lifts both arms signifying I should pick her up.

I do and she lays her head on my shoulder, wraps her arms tightly around me and I feel her breath on my neck.

This has become our routine.

While the others sleep, Cassidy finds me as soon as she wakes and this is how she starts her day.

It has a profound impact on me.

I am not her father but spend as much time with Cass and her sisters as he does.

I tell the girls to call me "Micheal" their friend and not their "stepfather" and ... except for awkward introductions when it's just them and me ... that's what they do.

They confide in me lots of things they keep from their parents and grandparents primarily because ... I don't act like a stepfather, parental figure or much of an adult.

I cuss around them and occasionally at them, drink wine when we're sitting around, listen to their confessions without much judgment and offer my thoughts at their half-baked ideas.

AND THEY KEEP COMING BACK FOR MORE!

Of course I get in trouble.

Yesterday both Sarah and my daughter Kristen got on to me because of my interaction with the girls and they're right ... there are things I can do better.

But ... they tell me they love me ... fight for time alone like they do with their Mother ... ask unanswerable questions like "Why can't you be my Dad?" ... tell me about girls kissing boys and girls kiss who kiss girls ... share things they share with their friends ... beg me to intervene with Sarah about things.

I love being Jeremy, Kristen and Chelsea's Dad and just because my children are adults doesn't mean it gets any easier.

I'm the first to admit I'm out of practice with smaller kids but I do my best to love and encourage them in my perverted ways.

I walk Cassidy to the sofa and as I lay her on it under a blanket she kisses my cheek.

Surprising her with Cinnamon Rolls she asks for uncooked doe and I give her some.

She laughs and winks because she's getting some and her sisters won't.

I never would have guessed at this stage of life I'd be living with 3 small children again and lots of people think I'm nuts because I do.

But they are gifts to me every bit as precious as life itself.

Plus I got all day to mess with them.

It's a good day.