Adult Years – Page 15 – His Smile Lit Up a Room and Other Things to Say at My Funeral

Mental Puddle

There’s an old Bill Cosby sketch where he talks about raising a son (yes, I know … Bill Cosby; don’t @ me—it’s a good sketch and we’re not debating art from fallen artists here). Not quoting, but he says something like, “Your boy is born. As soon as you can, you put a walnut inContinue reading “Mental Puddle”

Nimrod the Mighty Hunter

I am going hunting this week. This is a great source of mockery and fun for the kids. I have had a hunting license for probably twelve or thirteen years. I have an archery tag, turkey tag, and an antlerless deer tag (the license comes with two buck tags). I own no rifles or shotgunsContinue reading “Nimrod the Mighty Hunter”

Praise God

Grant has never slept in. It never mattered what time he went to bed—he was always up at first light, usually around six am. We’d hear his feet hit the ground, the patter of his sprint, then feel the collision as he jumped on me and exclaimed, “Hi, Dad!” This weekend, we traveled to PoughkeepsieContinue reading “Praise God”

You Want Something?

When Grant was little, he spoke primarily in second person even when he wanted something. He did this in both English and Spanish. He would ask Lauren, “You want a cookie?” and he would ask me, “Quieres galleta?” Of course, he was entirely uninterested in whether we wanted cookies—he wanted them. For years, I wonderedContinue reading “You Want Something?”

We Need an Intervention

Periodically, at the absolute peak of his playfulness, Dobby attacks my shoes or pant legs, then breaks into a full-on zoomie (as seen in the video). If you’re not a dog person, a zoomie occurs when a dog begins racing around madly, often in a circle. The term zoomie is widespread on the Internet, andContinue reading “We Need an Intervention”

I Am the Christmas Creep

When Dobby goes to the groomer, they always tie on him a little bandana in the spirit of whatever time of year it is. So yesterday, he got a fall bandana with pumpkins, gourds, and falling leaves. I was chopping vegetables for meals this week, and I had turned on a Christmas playlist. Graham wanderedContinue reading “I Am the Christmas Creep”

Days Like Today

I have exercised, eaten breakfast, and dropped Dobby at the groomer (he hates that). I am in the middle of an annual online training that is required at work. My pulse is ninety beats per minute—almost exactly that of my walking heart rate. (My resting heart rate is typically in the fifties.) My mind isContinue reading “Days Like Today”

A Towering Work of Staggering Genius

When Lindsay first found Dobby, she bought a bundle of treats and toys. One of those was a toy in which we could place a training treat, and Dobby would have to figure out how to get it out. According to Lindsay, dogs needed this sort of mental exercise as much as they needed physicalContinue reading “A Towering Work of Staggering Genius”

The Haunting of Greenhill Manor

Our house is only twenty-three years old, we know the last owners, no one has died in it, and aside from being on Wamsutta’s and Metacomet’s old hunting ground, we know of no reason that it should be haunted. And yet. Last night, the house alarm jarred us awake at 1:45 am. This has happenedContinue reading “The Haunting of Greenhill Manor”