navygreen: (AJ: camera)
Two nights ago - the night before Philip left - something special happened. We had all been in our jammies, ready to finish up the last bits of laundry that he would need to pack, and I told A.J. that it would be bedtime soon, for he and Jack would need to wake up so much earlier than usual the next day.

He looked at me with big eyes, and his lip started to quiver just a bit as he said, "But Dad promised that we would go to Target together and spend time just looking at all the toys."

Well, I knew nothing of this plan. I told him that he'd need to ask Dad about it, and I explained that it was getting pretty late in the evening already, so I really didn't know. A.J. walked into the living room where Philip was still packing, but he was too shy to bring it up. I told Philip that A.J. needed to ask him something, and that propelled A.J. to spit it out.

Philip's eyes grew big, and I could tell that he'd forgotten this promise. Over A.J.'s head, I nodded that he should go ahead, even if it would make the night a bit later. So the two of them changed back into real clothes and headed out for some special time together at the last minute. Jack stayed home with me, and since he was in his room listening to his CD player, he never even knew they left, nor did he care to ask. He was happy as a clam doing his own thing, and I knew that A.J. would relish the special "Dad time" with just Philip while they did something they both enjoy: look at new toys.

They came home about an hour later. No purchases in hand (it wasn't part of the deal, and it's not about the toys - it's about the time shared), and A.J. was all smiles as he changed back into his jammies. I think they had a nice time together. :-)
navygreen: (Texas)
My dad called me last week sometime to tell me a story, and I keep forgetting to write about it.

See, my Pawpaw loves motorcycles. He always has. He had one for a little while many, many, many years ago, and from the time he sold it, he's always wished he had another one. For his birthday just a couple of years ago, my extended family members even arranged a surprise for him - the owner of a Harley Davidson bike left it in my Pawpaw's yard all day... and Pawpaw was as giddy as could be just to look at the thing! My family tells me he just sat out in the yard on the bike all day, so happy. I even have a picture of that day (taken by my Aunt Edith):


Pawpaw on his birthday surprise motorcycle.


Isn't he just such a handsome feller? :-)

So early last week - maybe even the week before, I'm not sure - my dad called me to tell me a story. See, Pawpaw decided to buy himself a motorcycle. He's wanted it forever, and my aunts convinced him that "he's earned it, he should buy it." He found one on the lot that he liked quite a bit and was just about ready to buy it - with a sticker price of $30,000-ish. Just as he was about to start the paperwork for it, another bike caught his eye. It was an older model - used, I think - but Pawpaw just thought it was so pretty! He liked it so much better than the first one. This second bike was only about $17,000 or so, and he bought it.

He brought it home. Now, Pawpaw told my dad that he realizes he may never even be able to ride the thing, but it just makes him so happy just to have it and to look at it. He loves it! However, after sitting there with the bike at home for about an hour or so, he started feeling a little guilty. Guilty about all those victims of Hurricane Katrina and such. He decided to drive out (in his car) to the Red Cross or the Salvation Army (I'm not sure which) and give them a little donation to help with the guilt. He gave them $1,000.

After coming back home and spending another happy hour or so with the bike, he got to feeling a little guilty again. So he drove on back out to the same place he'd gone before and he - you guessed it! - donated ANOTHER $1,000.

*laughs*

Dad said that Pawpaw told him he reckoned he'd just about covered all his guilt now. Dad also said that Pawpaw sounded about the happiest he'd ever heard him in his life. I think that's just so neat. Really, my Pawpaw just makes me smile. :-)

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