A Quiet Friday Night

Day 247:

Life sure has changed since you've been in the World, Boy'O.  There was a time that when the foreman's whistle blew I was out to have a good time with friends from all over the place in bars we'd never been to and with people we'd never see again!  And let me tell you, Son, those were some great days!  But do you know something, Conor?  For as much as I loved those days, I don't miss them.  Not even a little bit.

Simply put, life is based in the experiences you have, or in some cases the experiences you allow yourself to have.  For me, meeting you meant it would all change.  And of course that's the case for anybody who decides to be a parent.  Truly.  But for me, I made the decision, or rather I allowed my heart to make the decision for me, that no matter what I was going to be the best Father I could ever be for you.  The rest of it be dammed, I had to shrink... Figuratively speaking.

These days good times are spent with you, Son.  They're spent enjoying your company, watching you grow, hearing you laugh, and seeing you smile.  These days fun is spent with a few choice people.  And not because the masses were ever bad.  They weren't.  I loved every moment I've ever shared with the fun and exciting people in my life before you, Son.  But the fact is, it was a selfish life.  One that was spent living for me.  An unquenchable lust to go new places, see new things, and meet new people.  Now however, life is about keeping with the chosen few.

Don't get me wrong, Boy'O.   My zest for life will never die.  Never.  Only now that zest is met by a select few but more importantly, you Conor.  Any experience I have with you is all the memory I'll ever need.  And i promise you, Son, we'll see the World.

Tonight was a great night, Conor.  Your Uncle Doug came to the house and we simply relaxed with a few Irish Ciders, some home cooked latino cuisine prepared by your mother, and some fine conversation steeped in anything from politics and religion to motorcycles and hot rods and finally to big goofy red dogs and beautiful bouncing baby boys.  Just what I needed, Son.

So life may have changed, Conor, but I sure as hell haven't.  And I'm having as much fun now as I ever have.  And I have you to thank for that...

I love you, Boy'O...
-Dad