A few nights ago we ate dinner at a salad bar buffet restaurant. While the Professor was up filling the dessert orders, I happened to catch part of the children's conversation. Apparently Sunshine was lightheartedly remarking that Daddy was being kind of strict not to let them get ice cream cones. Firstborn retorted that Daddy isn't strict as evidenced by the fact that he is helping Firstborn build a catapult.
(Huh? A non sequitur to be sure. But, back to the story...)
Sunshine argued that the catapult building didn't prove anything, because "Daddy is interested in catapults!"
Firstborn looked doubtful and said that he didn't think Daddy was really interested in catapults. Then three pairs of eyes turned to me for an answer. I assured Firstborn that in the sixteen plus years that I have known Daddy, I had never seen in him such a high level of interest in catapults. Firstborn smiled knowingly and said that was probably true.
Yes, most assuredly true. The Professor is what I like to call an intellectual. He is interested in cultured life: music, liturgy, art, history, literature, good cuisine and such. Drill bits, power tools and their dangerous companions do not hold any interest for this man.
And yet, Dear Son, your father set all of this aside for love of you. You are right that building a five foot tall replica of an historical era catapult is not at the top of your daddy's interests. Yet because he so enjoys seeing the excitement in your eyes and hearing the mounting anticipation in your voice, he spent two afternoons at Home Depot, scouring the PVC piping aisle as you read off the materials list. He has given over hours of his Fridays off to overseeing measuring, sawing and sanding of said PVC piping and tomorrow he will even help you drill and cement. Yup, he loves you.
And seeing him do all of this with you makes me love your daddy even more. Happy St. Valentine's, Professor.
(begging pardon for this day late post)
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