dada

You know that stage of life when you realize your parents are wiser than you, that they are not trying to ruin your life and in fact trying to salvage it from your small-minded intentions? Well I remember it too—I hit it in high school.

I am now hitting a second stage of life where I realize my parents might be cooler than me—or at least they are having more fun than me right now.

We spent this past weekend in Lamar/Rockport with my parents for my dad’s 53^rd birthday*. We ate too much good food, drank great wine, and in general just enjoyed some quality family time. I find it necessary to catch up on my parents’ lives in their actual presence, as they are nearly unreachable via the telephone. They are always on the run: at this board meeting or social function, busy at the clinic, at bible study or on random weekend getaways, tucked inside an art gallery or home store, or out working on one of their various projects. Their creativity and energy flow almost synergistically in a way that keeps them young I think. I am always thankful for those moments we can slow down a little (and they can slow down a lot) in order to just sit around the kitchen table and talk. So Happy Birthday Dada, and thanks for such an opportunity.

*November 12 also happens to be Ryan Gosling’s birthday! We tried not to celebrate this too openly...