Monday, October 27, 2008

no cake please, just money


The boys spent the day with their dad today while I working, and they seemed to have a good time. It got off to a little bit of a rocky start when I called home mid-morning and found them still there.

"Why hasn't dad picked you up? He was supposed to be there an hour ago," I said.


"It's the time change," answered Surfer Dude. "He's late because today is the day we change our clocks."


"No, it isn't," I said. "That's next week. Nothing has changed today time wise. I would have known it when I showed up for work at the wrong time."


"Oh," said Surfer Dude. "Well, that's what dad thought."


All righty then.


And for some reason, I've had this mental image stuck in my head all day after that.


My half-brother in Michigan explaining to me how he turned one birthday a year into a never ending cash cow.


"It's easy," he said. "Every couple of weeks you go up to dad and tell him that he forgot your birthday. He'll pull out his wallet, hand you a fifty and tell you to go buy yourself something nice. It never fails."


There's no comparing the two in terms of dad-style. My dad was always more comfortable throwing money at you and hoping you would go away. It worked pretty well. I went away, all right. And got a really warped perception of money in the process. The FX isn't like this, and wouldn't be even if he had scads of money to toss around. But it's the little details that tend to trip them both up. (Past tense in my dad's case, since he hasn't been around to pass out fifties for six years).


And what in the world made me make that particular association?

12 comments:

Rudee said...

I don't know because Freud's dead and we can't ask him.

willowtree said...

You do realise that you were so caught up in the absurdity of it, that you didn't realise the greater lie? Had he really forgotten to change his clocks, he should have been there early, not late, for while your clocks would have said 8:00am, his should still have said 9:00.

Altaglow said...

Ahhhh, WT. Dog's best friend-man's best detractor.

I've always found however that wherever I go things tend to be screwed up after I leave. Probably just a coincidence. Love, A

Altaglow said...

I'm sorry. I was flip. You've had a couple of close death dates to live through recently--not to mention your dad's birthday last month and your divorce, another death of a type. I'm not surprised that you think about the things that bring laughs or solace from the past. We all do that all of the time. Take a deep breath--BREATHE. Love, Mom

Marti said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Potty Mummy said...

wt is right, of course, but I know plenty of people who get mixed up as to which way those clocks go - and of course maybe he was on the UK calendar, since our clocks DID go back yesterday. Aah - that lovely extra hour in bed. Assuming you don't have kids, of course. Which we do. So forget it.

Marti said...

I have to agree with wt...I think it is a lame excuse. Do you know how many times in high school when I broke kurfew I tried that same lame excuse for being late? I had the clocks moved/or not. It never worked, but it seems I kept trying because the truth would have just gotten me in trouble. (and as I know my mom reads this, I am sure she will have something to add)

ped crossing said...

But I am assuming all's well that ends well?

As for the connection, brains make strange connections all the time.

Irene said...

My computer told me what time it was and my radio controlled alarm clock did also, so it wasn't too hard to figure out that something happened during the night that I had been unaware of. People do come up with some lame excuses, don't they and then expect us to fall for them. As if we are kindergärtners. The FG should have his mouth washed out with green soap for telling fibs.

Corey~living and loving said...

HI! It's been awhile and I have missed you, so I can by for a visit. :)

When I started reading this post I freaked out wondering if I had missed the time change. LOL I'm a loser like that.

Have a great day!

Anonymous said...

Marti, right on, you had trouble getting away with things, nearly always got caught!!!

Tiggerlane said...

I am confused - spring FORWARD, FALL BACK, which means he would have been an hour late...and I'm gonna argue with WT about this.

However, it's the parenting style issues...you don't want your kids to grow up thinking poorly of their dad, and now you realize it's out of your hands.