Growing up, my Dad always wanted us to eat dinner together. Never could figure out why, since it seemed like all he did was fuss at us and tell us to be quiet. To this day, the man can't eat a meal unless you can hear crickets chirping in the background.
Plus, we had one of those booth type things, where we would all climb in and Pop would be at the end of the table, sitting in the only chair available.
I figured out the booth: if we were all packed in, there was no possibility of a random runaway from the table: we were in there until EVERYBODY was done. That I get: most nights, Rakes is up and down from the bar about as often as Joe Torre is waving to the bullpen. Not to mention when one of our neighbors rings the doorbell while we are trying to eat: usually that doesn't bother me. I'm more relieved over the fact Rakes or Trot hasn't defaced someone's home than I am bothered they interrupted dinner.
It's the being quiet I can't quite get: dinner time is when I hear about Ciera's first day of 4th grade (she loves it) or Rakes telling me, 500 times in a row, how "tool it bas to swing on the playset today". Trot doesn't quite talk yet, but by his grunts, points, and screams, I figure he had a pretty good day as well.
Dinner is also usually the point in the day where I get the rundown from Ang on who did what to whom and when, plus the daily "What damage did they cause to the house today?" report. Point is, hearing my kids laugh and giggle and tell about their day is one of my highlights.
Sure, some nights I'd rather read SI while I eat, or pretend I'm at some high class restaurant, or daydream about that trade of Kyle Snyder for Albert Pujols I've convinced myself would work, but I wouldn't trade dinner time for anything.
Well, maybe Pujols, but that's not happening, so why torture myself?
Life doesn't happen in big huge events: it happens when you eat dinner, or sit on the front porch swing, or spend 30 minutes listening to Hillary Duff. Sure, your ears or sanity may not ever be the same again, but you learn a lot about what makes a 9 year old girl tick.
I hope I never lose sight of the magic that takes place in the simple things: if I ever take for granted the few minutes a day where a life long memory is made, they should take away my Dad card for life.
Speaking of which, the Yankees lost 16-0 to the Tigers tonight: it's an 8 game lead going into the three game series tomorrow.
If that's not a life long memory, I don't know what is.
34 comments:
you are NOT getting rid of KYLE!!!
another quiet night in the Dalton house I see :)
Baseball is just beginning
Good Job Jr.
I have set at that booth seat and listened to you and your fairhaired bro. eating cereal sounding like nuts and bolts in a blender. I could pull up in my car mufflers roaring, Foghat on the 8track and still know the boys are eating cereal!
Tex, yep, just another night on Walton's mountain! I'd never trade Kyle: it's just an example of the sort of stuff that floats through my head during the day. One time, I had convinced myself that we could get Vladdy for 2 minor league pitchers and Wally the Mascot.
Bub, I remember those days: you and your porn stache and Javelin, jamming to "American Band" and pimping in your polyester slacks.
Good times. Good times.
Great post Ted. Keep up the tradition of eating together as long as you can.
I'm tempted to say the Y*****s were eclipsed today, then I figured you guys won't get to see the eclipse of the Moon tonight.
It's at around 9:00 pm here which must be 5 a.m. for you: hope you're not up!
Reminds me of October 2004 in St Louis, and it's supposed to be red tonight: omens??
Horsham, gotta say I wasn't up, but it sounds wicked awesome.
Omens? Sounds good to me: and I think last night's beatdown may have been the Yankees swan song for this year.
Take it easy, and let us know how tomorrow is.
Ted - I think eating dinner together is something that will always pass down from one generation to the next, however, hopefully all the technology (including fancy stuff not even invented yet) will not interfere with that somehow in the future.
The day has arrived - Have a good one!
///I figured you guys won't get to see the eclipse of the Moon tonight.//
I saw it in fact my boyfriend woke me up at 3 am to see the thing.I was about to kill him after though:)
Beautiful post, little brother. I think it's very sweet they want to fill you in on their day. Be thankful; I get very little information from cousin Jerry, but sometimes at dinner he might surprise us with details. 'Course Libby tells EVERYTHING, but I prefer that to a quiet teenager. :)
8 game lead. Even sounds good. Just keep the whooping sticks out for the Yankee series, and get that division clinched. Go Sox!
Carol, it's here: I'm already agitated and it's over 2 hours away! Hope you had a great day.
Stacy, hope the new job is going well: we miss you! And yes, they want to tell me EVERYTHING. Information overload.
Here we go Red Sox, here we go.
::clap, clap::
Ahhh...the yellow booth...that brings back memories...And what was Bub doing at our house when we were eating our bedtime snack? Oh that's right...he was robbing the cradle!
Good post bro. I can almost hear it from here.
That's right: Bub would be on "Catch a Predator" if he dated Sonya now.
Brought back some memories for me too when I wrote it last night, Mattie.
Seems we're all doing a little reminiscing lately, eh?
Nice, sweet post, Ted.
********
Now that I've been nice, can I say I HOPE THE SOX KILL the Y*****s (I like that, HS!)??
Becks, I have to say I was inspired a bit by your post the other day.
::tips cap in thanks::
Now, MAIM THE YANKEES.
Evening everyone:
Pujols? are you on crack? He is the A-Rod of the NL--he is a JERK...ewwwww
but if you were going to trade for anyone it would NOT be KYLE!
Why are we not winning this game 42-3 by now?
I am not worried, I just...want...them...gone...
And what is this My9 crap? Don't even have the option of watching the game....grrr
Hope everyone is well!
Go Sox!
Christine, I've heard both sides about Pujols. I do know he has a fan with Downs Syndrome who he has become friends with over the years. That buys a lot of get out of jail free cards for me.
3-2 Yankees, top of the 6th. Typical Sox/Yankee game: close, low scoring, and ulcer inducing. Pettitte is getting close to 100 pitches, and I'll take our pen over their pen any day of the week.
Far as I can tell, My9 is basically the YES network on some local NY station.
I miss Orsillo and Remy.
By the way, what IS it with you women and Kyle Snyder? He's tall, blonde, and a professional athlete.
Oh yeah.
its the strong tall and silent type ted
I just think he has alot of heart...and the tall blond athletic part is nice too...LOL
Just once, I would like to see NESN cover the Sox...since I am so close to NYC, I ALWAYS get YES/NY affiliates..it sucks....:-(
SO I am listening to MLB Radio, and watching gameday...LOL
Go Sox!
I HBATE GAMEDAY AND THE YANKEES :)
If thats the case Tex, I'm glad I'm already married: I stand no chance: short and obnoxiously loud.
Christine, MLB radio means Sterling, right? If so, I'd rather dip myself in caramel and go lay on an ant hill than listen to him and that hag call a game.
But that's just me.
Kaylee! How are you feeling, doll?
:-)
Tek HR!
3-3 top of the 7th.
Whoo Hoo! Jason Varitek is...a...god...!
I reallyREALLY hope this doesn't turn into an extra innings...
Christine, Damon JUST hit a 2 run dinger: 5-3 MFY's.
Which means a win off Joba and Rivera would be extra special.
Yeah....I know....(sigh)
CRAP!
It's OK Christine:
Joba hasn't been touched up yet: tonight seems like a perfect night to remind him he's in the big boy league now.
ARGH!
JD Drew is USELESS...
sigh....
And now Bobby Kielty is down
Call up Jacoby NOW...
Christine, how did Kielty hurt his back? He was in the game for a half an inning?
I have NO idea...one minute he was in the game, the next he came up lame with lower back pain....
What a crappy game...
I HATE Johnny Damon...
You back a wounded dog into a corner you better bring a big stick and finish the job. I am glad hockey is around the corner.
Would you stop Bub: it's still a 7 ame lead: no way Beckett loses tomorrow to Roger. No Way.
The Yankees are in the Red Sox position: fighting for the Wild Card. I actually think they will get it, unless the pitching completely falls apart.
However, for the first time since 1995, they WON'T win the AL East.
Don't you have rich dingbats to fleece?
I prefer to harass relatives. Its just that you and all the others seem to be obsessed with the Yankees. Reminds me of the OSU Cowboys, finish 1-100 but if that win is against the Sooners it is a good season.
If they lose this series regardless of what the Yanks do the rest of the way they are in your head. Take it to the bank and cash the check. Hope I am wrong but that rarely happens, HaHa.
Bub, difference is, we are in the drivers seat with a 7 game lead.
And I think it's nature to want to bury the Yankees: however, I'd MUCH rather be 7 games up than 7 games down.
You always want to beat the Yankees: it's only natural.
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