Monday, October 11, 2010

Feats of strength

Like most little boys, I thought my dad was super-strong. I saw him lift things I couldn't budge, plus he had stories about doing what seemed impossible--like installing the monster air conditioner in our living room window all by himself. It was huge and weighed a ton.

So I grew up thinking I needed to be able to move or lift or fix anything by myself. It's what men do! Now it's become a running joke with my kids. Whenever I move something heavy, I tell my them to write it down as one of dad's "feats of strength". It's a joke because my kids know the next part of this story.

When I was 12, my folks bought a console tv. My oldest brother tried to pick it up, but it was too big. So that night my dad and I brought it home and we carried it into the house together. Ten years later I heard my dad telling the story about the night we got our first console TV. That son-of-a-gun told everyone HE carried it into the house all by himself. I thought "Liar!" But I just smiled and kept my mouth shut. I didn't want to take away his moment. Honesty is great, but sometimes it's nice to let people have their little illusions.

Hopefully some day my kids will do the same for me--if I ever claim credit for something NOT on that list they're keeping. LOL, who am I kidding! I'll never be able to get away with anything! =)

26 comments:

  1. Ha! My mom is the one in our family who never lets the facts get in the way of a good story. And like you, I have kids who call me on it if I get even the slightest detail of a story wrong.

    ReplyDelete
  2. hahah, this was a cute post :) And what a nice son of you to let your dad bask in his glory. ;D lol

    ReplyDelete
  3. hahaha what a kind and generous son you are! i have lots of moments like those esp. with my mom. :P

    ReplyDelete
  4. so in your conclusion he's not that strong? lol. but installing the monster a.c was a hard one. :D

    ReplyDelete
  5. Aw..this is a cute post and I agree. Sometimes you just have to let people have their moments of glory! :)

    Jiye
    http://pearlsandgreentea.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  6. hahaaha that is sooooooo damn ute ric-
    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  7. My parents sometimes do that too, claim all the works for themselves :D

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your dad is so cute, but my favorite story is still that of you and your daughter about blowing your wife's car lol ;D

    ReplyDelete
  9. I like to take all the glory too. When Ron and I do something together that turns out great we get into huge arguments over who's idea it was. I typically win.

    ReplyDelete
  10. That was a heart touching post! You were such a good son! Sometimes it is indeed better to keep one's mouth shut. XD I'm sure your kids will grow up to such good people as you are, cause they have the ideal role model! May I ask how old your kids are or is that too private? :-)

    ReplyDelete
  11. lol i hope that i can remember little moments like these forever with my kids one day : )

    i'm really good at remembering embarrassing things about my mom though! lol

    ReplyDelete
  12. HAHAHAHA maybe he genuinely forgot what really happened! LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  13. aww that's lovely =)) he might not remember you tho :P

    ReplyDelete
  14. perhaps your dad has selective amnesia :p

    ah no.... your dad is awesome :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. You are always so sweet, Ric.

    Most of kids of that age would have taken away their father's moment of glory by telling the truth.

    I grew up envying my dad's strength. Even after growing up, I still think he can carry heavier stuffs than me. And he's in his 60s.

    Love your stories, great way to start a work day with a heartwarming story like this.

    ReplyDelete
  16. haha at least it was just your dad... i know people around me who take credit for most things that i come up with... whether it's a joke or something i did... i would rather have my dad take credit rather than someone else. haha! ;P

    ReplyDelete
  17. haha i think dave does this all the time but me being the obnoxious girlfriend always has to take my part of the credit. lol.

    another cute family story from you...you never cease to entertain me.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Aww ... you're just being the sweet little soldier?

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hahaha! Nice post, Bro! That's a cute little story. So nice of you not to blow up your dad's illusion :-)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Haha... that's a really cute anecdote. Gee, could your dad have really forgotten? Haha... such a sweet son you are. I hope my kids could be like that too!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hehe you always have the cutest stories! Thanks for your comments on my Killahbeez article :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. lol. my mom says stories about how she does things all the time. even though it's through the help of me or my sisters. I just let her have it. it's easier than arguing with her!

    ReplyDelete
  23. thanks for the comment! and it's true the anticipation might be better than the actual moment !

    ReplyDelete
  24. Well of course not if you're making 'em keep a list! :P

    ReplyDelete
  25. sometimes you just gotta let your parents toot their horns a little :) mine love to brag about little things with relatives and such.. and I'm just rolling my eyes on the side haha. yes i think you're right.. i would so not be forgiven if i left blogging eek *imagines crowd with pitchfork*

    ReplyDelete
  26. Very adorable post, I hope your kids will do the same for you too!

    ReplyDelete