Too Many People Grow Up

“Too many people grow up. That's the real trouble with the world, too many people grow up. They forget. They don't remember what it's like to be 12 years old. They patronize, they treat children as inferiors. Well I won't do that.”

Walt Disney

Somedays I forget what it’s like to be twelve years old and I am a poorer person for it. We celebrated my son Jack’s twelfth birthday this weekend and this morning as I struggled with a woebegone work project and the usual Monday morning headaches, it made me realize how much I miss that age. It really is the perfect age… It's just remembering that very fact that is so damned hard. But why? Why, despite every effort do I forget this?

I guess its just not in my nature. I need to rationalize it somehow right?

I sure realize one thing though, I am fortunate because I can live vicariously through Jack and maybe experience a little bit of it all over again. At least I hope. So remind me the next time you don’t brush your hair or forget to clean the catbox that being twelve is your priority, the rest of the stuff really isn’t that important. Not even close.

So Happy Birthday Jack… I’m the luckiest person in the world to have you in my life. Stay 12 for as long as you possibly can!

Love
Dad