As far back as I can remember, it all started with the Growing Pains series finale. I was just a 15 year old boy at the time, experiencing actual growing pains of my own. The Seavers moved out of their house for some forgotten reason, and the last scene saw the family looking back at the empty house through a half open front door and saying goodbye to the home they had known for so long. Tell me you don't know how to finish the chorus "As long as we've got each other...". Maybe it was because I grew up with sisters that had Kirk Cameron plastered all over their bedroom walls, but Growing Pains was my first emotional series finale. Losing the Seavers reminded me all too much of many friends I had growing up that eventually moved away. There is a certain finality and sentimentality attached to all series finales that seems to tear at me. It's weird, I know, but that's just how things are.
Last year I was able to pull through the loss of 24 and LOST knowing that I still had The Office and Friday Night Lights to pick up the pieces and put me back together.
However, tonight I am forced to bid adieu to another dear friend. The lights have gone out in Dillon, Texas. The musical montage introducing the series finale made me lose it entirely. It's more than likely that I invest way too much emotion into fictional plots and unreal story lines, but I have to appreciate writers and actors that can evoke a real sense of sentimentality from their audience. It baffles me because I'm not an extremely emotional person in real life.
Farewell Friday Night Lights. Thanks for the memories.
Brooklyn employs every trick in the book to avoid going to sleep at night, and when those tricks don't work, she creates her own tricks to add to the book. The other night after 'lights out' Brooklyn asked if I would stay and talk with her for a couple of minutes. I obliged, and eventually we got to talking about some of my experiences in college. The kid is good, and somehow knows how much I like to reminisce about those days. Anyhow, further down the conversation I asked Brooklyn, "Where do you think you'll want to go to college when you're older?" Her quick response was, "BYU". As pleased as I was with her response, I couldn't help but notice a look of confusion come across Brooklyn's face as she followed with, "Wait a minute. Do you mean I get to choose?"
We then discussed how, outside of college, she'll never be allowed to live outside our house. Brooklyn wasn't buying that, telling me that eventually she'll get married and have her own house. Thankfully, she continued, "But don't worry Dad, I'll get a house in the same neighborhood, maybe just down the street."
So over dinner Brooklyn slipped and used the word 'butt'. She caught herself and changed quickly to 'bum', knowing that we don't use 'butt' in our house. But the whole line of conversation triggered a conversation she had at school earlier in the day. Brooklyn then chimes in, "a boy at school tried to convince me that 'sh*%' is a bad word. I told him that 'sh*%' is not a bad word. 'Sh*%' isn't a bad word is it, Dad?" By this time my 7-year old daughter had dropped the 'S' bomb 3 times before I picked my jaw up off the table and could recover with a response. I told her the 'S' word was an extremely bad word that should never be used by anybody. Brooklyn, now shocked, quickly retorted, "then why when we're talking about the breed of dog, to we say Sh*% Zhu? A logical question that deserved a logical answer. It was then when we had to break down the spelling and correct pronunciation of the breed of dog vs. the spelling of profanity. Just not a conversation I was anticipating for at least another few years. Whew!
As I stand at the sink washing dishes, I can't help but engage in some old-fashioned self-loathing and yet, at the same time, marvel at the genius of Pampered Chef. You see, I'm a not so proud owner of a cutting board cover. 'What on earth is that?' you ask? Well I'll tell you. It's a decorative plastic cover to put over your cutting board so as to protect the cutting board from being...well...cut upon. I used to mock my neighbors for possessing such an obviously unnecessary accessory. Now all I can do is resurrect this blog and absolve myself of the shame I feel each time I look at the thing by admitting to the world that I have been duped.
It's a phenomenal business innovation concept though. My goal now is to find other such seemingly ridiculous inventions and exploit the naive public. My list is short for now, but if you have other ideas I would be happy to put together some kind of joint venture (60/40 of course):
1. Teeth covers - the mouth guard already exists but this is much different. It's like a synthetic cover over your teeth such that they don't get worn down by that pesky twice daily brushing. I will sell in bulk for those that brush more frequently.
2. Grass covers - this one may take more science than others in that I would have to develop more a spray that covers the grass and protects it from being cut when the mower goes over it.
3. Sock covers - how many socks have you gone through in the past year? With my new sock covers, you can double the expected life of your favorite socks!
4. Pillow Case covers - save your nice bed-in-a-bag pillow cases from the wear and tear of your oily or flaky head by investing in the peace of mind that comes from a pillow case cover.
Let's keep these ideas between you and me for now, okay?
