Fathers and Sons

So today golf was at Altadena at the behest of Chris who was bringing his  dad, visiting from Philly.  He thought it would be the easiest course to play. I had met his dad when Lisa and I came to their wedding back in the day but I honestly don't remember him. But I do remember Chris would tell us not so flattering stories about how he was raised. Stories like that tend to lose energy once you realize the principals are now old. Kind of like Lisa's dad. They did the best they can with the resources they had and in most cases, they too were a product of their programming and imprints from their parents. I guess the lesson here is that if there are things you don't like about how your parents raised you, you can now forgive them and put in the good programs and do it different with YOUR kids. Something I definitely have in mind when I am with Johnnie. I'm seeing him later in the day, verified by Lisa. She wants to do notes for a few hours. I'm all too happy to watch him in her stead. In the meantime, back to the life lesson that is Sunday golf. My tee shots were fine today, capped by a nice bomb on Hole 7 just like the last time I played that hole. I started 5-6-6 before tanking the really long Hole 4. After 5 holes I was just one hole back actually. And when I tied on hole 6 I had already tied for 4 holes. Then came the aforementioned bomb on Hole 7. I should have won that hole. Had a chance to tie. But I did not make my putt.  It always comes down to a stroke or a putt doesn't it? Hole 8 I had a chance to tie again. But 3-putted to lose the hole. I was disappointed by Hole 9 and I couldn't sustain positive stuff. I whiffed 2 straight times on a fairway shot that I laced 200 yards the last time we played. I hit par 5 that day. Today I shot 7. I could not relax on my putts. Twice I ended doing the exact opposite of what I visualized. I think it's because I simply was not relaxed enough and got to wound up. Got too tight. I could not get into any rhythm. That's the golf lesson for the day. Let the shot find you. Be in rhythm. Be relaxed. Oh well. At least it turned into a beautiful day out and I'm glad Chris got to play with his dad. I wish there were still things I could do with mine, but of course he is not around anymore. All I could do now is BE a good dad to my son. And do as many things together as we could.

And so speaking of which Lisa dropped him off at the apartment on their way back from their haircut. Awww I like his new haircut. Matches mine that I got from Friday. Now we BOTH have short hair. He was drowsy when he got to my place. But the minute I picked him up he perked up and did NOT want to go to sleep. He went into Johnnie mode as soon as he got in my apartment. Started to draw his dinosaurs, started to sing his Frozen 2 songs, started to dance. And we ended up spending the entire Sunday afternoon together. We played a bit of baseball in the courtyard, and when it came time to eat I took us to KFC on Pico. I knew he hadn't had that good of a lunch and who knows what kind of dinner he would get from Lisa tonight. And so I made sure he filled up. And fill up he did. He ate ALL that popcorn chicken. And then I had him back to Lisa's house at 6:30 PM like I promised. AND I made him wear the new VANS shoes I had waiting in the wings for the last few months, waiting for him to grow into them. He's grown into them. Lisa wasn't home yet when we got to her house and Courtney was dead asleep. How does she do that?  Anyway I was glad for the 4 hours with Johnnie. That's quite a bit longer than simply watching him at one of Lisa's soccer games anyway. I know I'll get him back tomorrow night too, but as I said I'm happy with whatever time I get with him when it's not my turn and I told Lisa as much. I even got to play with him for another hour while Lisa made them dinner [see I knew they didn't have food]. And then I went home and got to watch an EPIC 4th quarter of this year's NBA All-Star game. It was SOOO good! Exciting basketball from the best of the best in the world and they were going at it and competing like it was not an exhibition, but like it was a play-off game. They played defense, took charges, got stops I mean it was amazing! Don't know quite what the difference was from past All-Star Games other than the format and the fact that they were trying to honor Kobe. Still it was good. The best part of tonight though was that I get the day off tomorrow. And I don't have to wake up early. I will anyway but I don't have to. Makes all the difference in the world.