Car rides

My dad's never been short on words and has never met a stranger. I used to go to a preschool called Young World and my dad took me there every morning on his way to work. I was never really much for singing, but I loved singing with my dad on the way to preschool everyday. It was at least a 30 minute drive, and we'd sing the whole way there. I don't even remember all the songs, the only one that sticks out in my mind is "Davy Crockett" (yeah, he had a song too, as if being portrayed by John Wayne wasn't enough). Back then I had a coon skin cap that my parents bought me from the Alamo gift shop (that is, before I left it outside one day and my dogs chewed the tail off). So yeah, going to Young World everyday and singing songs with my dad was an adventure every morning.

As I got older, the lyrics turned into, what I affectionately call, lectures. Like I said, my dad's never been short on words. I've always considered myself a good listener, and I attribute that to listening to my dad talk. Any and every opportunity he gets to talk to someone, he does it. So for years the car rides consisted of my dad giving his two cents on life, always having advice for any age old situation I found myself in. Calvin and Hobbes always resonated with me because Calvin's dad always speeched him about building character. Not only has he never met a stranger, but there's also nothing he can't give a lecture on. After having been in college for 6 years, I'm sure he'd make a great professor. He could teach Beefology 101. (Inside joke, for all you outsiders)

Today, I'm old enough to talk back, give my own two cents. The car rides are just as enjoyable as when I was a kid, headed to Young World. Now we both talk and we both listen. And it's like we're singing together all over again.

Happy Father's Day.