As I ruminate on Father’s Day this morning, I’m reminded of the good times I’ve had with my sons. 

I built bikes for both of them and they rode them all over the neighborhood.  I took them fishing and remember the day one of them caught a “fish”.  It was really a dead fish that the crabs had already eaten all except the head, leaving the skeleton attached.  I never heard such a scream before or since. 

I saw the excitement when I took them into my bike shop Christmas morning and told them to pick out anything they wanted to put on their bikes.  I enjoyed the races we went to at Coastal Plains Raceway Park.  Erick got so sunburned on his neck it gave him sun poisoning.  It looked bad, but he got over it. 

I remember the time his mom had to get between him and me when he ran his 72 Chevelle into a ditch, so I wouldn’t “get physical” with him.  I got over it, when he had a Ford truck pull it out of that ditch.  Seemed like fair retribution. 

I remember how Matt didn’t want that little pickup truck I bought for him, but he dressed it up and won trophies with it at car shows as a member of a lowrider club.  His windshield banner said “Slam it or Sell It”.  I remember wondering if Matt would ever keep a car after trading cars at least five times while he was in college.  (He hasn’t stopped that habit yet and he’s 36.) 

I remember how I jacked him up the wall once for talking disrespectfully to him mom.  (Life isn’t always full of “good” memories mind you.)  I remember taking Erick to the MEPS center in Raleigh to be inducted into the Air Force over twenty years ago.  He’s a MSgt now.  I remember going to Matt’s graduation from UNCW with a Batchleor’s Degree in Business Administration.  He’s now a District Manager for Wells Fargo. 

I watched both get married to women who I believe were meant specially for them.  In spite of what may be, I love my sons and their wives.  And I love my Charlotte and Christina and John.  They’re my prodigy. 

Their days are in full swing and mine are winding down.  My consolation in getting old is that I have two men who were raised to contribute to society.  Not take away from it. 
I will conclude by saying that I love Libby.  She has been a great help to me although she’s never met these two men in my life.  Someday I hope she can.