A Better Day and Night

Day 100:

Wow Conor... 100 days. It's true what they say, time really flies when you're having fun! Or when you have a baby... Synonymous I suppose. Still, you're a joy, Boy'O. And each moment spent with you is a moment not only unlike any other, but unlike any I ever expected. Last night I managed to get to sleep at a reasonable hour (11:30pm - reasonable for an old night owl like me) and at 4:30am when you started to fuss I was all to happy to jump up and get your bottle.

By the time I'd heated the bottle and made it back to your room, you were wide awake. Eyes as big as saucers and not making a sound. I assumed somebody told you about last night's blogpost and you were bound and determined to prove your old-man wrong. Well, I thought it fantastic; your being wide awake and as calm as a forgiven soul. I changed you, laid you in my lap, fed you your bottle, and drifted into my subconscious - as I so often do.

In this case I remember thinking about what it would be like if you were BMX racer, or maybe a motocross kid?! When I was a boy I loved nothing more than riding my bike. When I was old enough to reach the throttle on a motocross bike, that was my purest thrill! And I was fearless, Son. Maybe to a fault. Though I never raced. I never competed with my great love. And I sat there wondering what it might sound like to hear your name at the starting gate...
"Wearing the number 34, all the way from Fairfax, Virginia- Conor "The Lion Heart" Yerkes!!!!" to a thunderous applause from the grandstands barely audible over the cracking of the two-stroke motors! What a thrill!!!

Yeah so, it's a dream, Son. I've no expectation of you to become the next Ricky Carmichael or Travis Pastrana. But I thought to myself - what if my Son WANTS to race motocross? Well, of course I'd support it! And I'd teach you all I know. But the courage and the daring would come from you. And danger be damned, I'd support you... Then again, if you told me you wanted to be the World's best basket weaver, I'd support you there, too.

Overall, today was a restful and peaceful day for you, Boy'O. Good to see that you, like the rest of us, have your good days and bad days... It's all apart of this thing called life, Son. And to be sure, it's all worth it.

I love you.
-Dad