Gary_in_Indiana
Elite Member
- Joined
- Apr 22, 2002
- Messages
- 3,373
- Location
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Tractor
- John Deere 4200 MFWD HST w/ JD 420 FEL w/ 61" loader bucket & toothbar & JD 37 BH w/ 12" bucket
Cindi's post reminded me of something I experienced about ten years ago I thought I'd share for any who might like to read it.
It was summer and my daughter was going to be in eighth grade that fall. I called from work to talk with her and her Mom tells me, "She's not here. She and Katey (her best friend) are out jogging."
Now, my daughter may be many things, but 'athletic' isn't one of them. At this point in her life things like clothes and hair and such were a big thing-running and sweating were not. My first response was, "Pardon me? I mean the 6' tall brunette who lives there and doesn't even like getting her hands dirty."
"No... Really... She and Katey (another brunette nearly 6' tall) are out jogging around the boulevard strip."
I thought, "This I have got to see" so I left my office and drove over there. I go past the house-no joggers. I go down to the end of the street-no joggers. Just as I'm preparing to go around the boulevard strip to head up the other direction there they are... jogging!
I was shocked! Of course, then I notice a couple of things. Their hair is perfectly couiffed. Headbands are neatly in place. The sweat suits are immaculate and the stride is short and mild at best. Hmmm....
I pull over and wave them to my truck. "Dad! What are you doing here?" I stated my business and chatted with them for just a moment then things became very clear in my eyes for around that same boulevard strip came a couple of their classmates whom I had coached in basketball at their school.
Amazingly, at that moment these two young men needed to stop and re-tie shoes, adjust socks and stretch, etc. I say nothing to the girls about this. I merely look at them over the top of my glasses. My daughter lets go with "WHAT?!?" through a wide grin.
"I didn't say anything. What do you mean?"
"Nothing.... Is that all you needed?"
"Yes, honey... that's all I needed to know. Why don't you go ahead with your run now? Have a good time."
"Aren't you leaving?"
"Naaah... not right now. It's such a nice day I think I'll just sit here a while and enjoy the view in the park. Go ahead. I'll talk to you when I get home tonight."
The girls take off and, amazingly, at that moment all of the stretching the boys had been doing had been completed and they started to take off as well.
"Hey fellas! Come on over here. What are you two up to today?"
"Hi coach... Just trying to stay in shape."
I just smiled, looked them dead in the eyes and said, "Fellas, I just want you to know that I know exactly what you're thinking."
They began to protest and I said, "Wait! Like I said, I just want you to know that I know exactly what you're thinking... and I want to tell you how...
"It's because twenty-five years ago I was thinking the same thing about your mothers."
You could see the wheels turning in each of their heads. 'Coach did go to school with Mom...' They looked as stunned as if they'd been hit across the forehead with a 2x4. I don't think they were all that steady in their strides when the jogged away, either.
Not only had I made my point, but I knew that when the girls asked them (as I knew they would) what I had talked with them about there was no way in the world these boys were ever going to tell them. It was like the perfect crime. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
It was summer and my daughter was going to be in eighth grade that fall. I called from work to talk with her and her Mom tells me, "She's not here. She and Katey (her best friend) are out jogging."
Now, my daughter may be many things, but 'athletic' isn't one of them. At this point in her life things like clothes and hair and such were a big thing-running and sweating were not. My first response was, "Pardon me? I mean the 6' tall brunette who lives there and doesn't even like getting her hands dirty."
"No... Really... She and Katey (another brunette nearly 6' tall) are out jogging around the boulevard strip."
I thought, "This I have got to see" so I left my office and drove over there. I go past the house-no joggers. I go down to the end of the street-no joggers. Just as I'm preparing to go around the boulevard strip to head up the other direction there they are... jogging!
I was shocked! Of course, then I notice a couple of things. Their hair is perfectly couiffed. Headbands are neatly in place. The sweat suits are immaculate and the stride is short and mild at best. Hmmm....
I pull over and wave them to my truck. "Dad! What are you doing here?" I stated my business and chatted with them for just a moment then things became very clear in my eyes for around that same boulevard strip came a couple of their classmates whom I had coached in basketball at their school.
Amazingly, at that moment these two young men needed to stop and re-tie shoes, adjust socks and stretch, etc. I say nothing to the girls about this. I merely look at them over the top of my glasses. My daughter lets go with "WHAT?!?" through a wide grin.
"I didn't say anything. What do you mean?"
"Nothing.... Is that all you needed?"
"Yes, honey... that's all I needed to know. Why don't you go ahead with your run now? Have a good time."
"Aren't you leaving?"
"Naaah... not right now. It's such a nice day I think I'll just sit here a while and enjoy the view in the park. Go ahead. I'll talk to you when I get home tonight."
The girls take off and, amazingly, at that moment all of the stretching the boys had been doing had been completed and they started to take off as well.
"Hey fellas! Come on over here. What are you two up to today?"
"Hi coach... Just trying to stay in shape."
I just smiled, looked them dead in the eyes and said, "Fellas, I just want you to know that I know exactly what you're thinking."
They began to protest and I said, "Wait! Like I said, I just want you to know that I know exactly what you're thinking... and I want to tell you how...
"It's because twenty-five years ago I was thinking the same thing about your mothers."
You could see the wheels turning in each of their heads. 'Coach did go to school with Mom...' They looked as stunned as if they'd been hit across the forehead with a 2x4. I don't think they were all that steady in their strides when the jogged away, either.
Not only had I made my point, but I knew that when the girls asked them (as I knew they would) what I had talked with them about there was no way in the world these boys were ever going to tell them. It was like the perfect crime. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
