posted Nov 30, 2008 11:39 AM by Matt Perkins
Ok, I've taken the family to
south Florida to spend spring break at my mother's lavish
tropical resort. Matt and Eric are 10 and 8 years old,
respectively. We get off the plane, retrieve our luggage, rent our
car and head over to Grandma's house. We're all starving, so I stop
at my favorite bar-b-q joint on the way. We get seated, order our
chicken wings and ribs, and sit back sipping our drinks.....relaxing in
the gorgeous sunshine waiting for our lunch to arrive. Suddenly, the
hostess escorts a group of elderly ladies to the table right next to
us. One of them turns to Eric, smiles and says "hello" as she is
seated. Eric turns to me and asks, in his LOUDEST voice, "Hey
Dad....how come all the women down here have BLUE HAIR! " Anyone in the
restaurant would have had to be deaf not to hear him. I glanced over to
our waitress and hostess and they were doubled over laughing. I didn't
have the guts to offer even the meekest of apologies to the blue-heads.
Ah yes, "out of the mouths of babes........!" -Joe |
posted Nov 25, 2008 11:37 PM by Matt Perkins
I remember one day in Eric's senior year there were water gun assassins -- take no prisoners…..
I was sitting in the family room with Eric when he suddenly crouched down and looked out the
back bay window. One of his classmates was out there skulking around
looking to tag Eric. A big smile crossed Eric's face as he said
"Gotcha." Then he quietly crept out of the house and went up
behind (I think it was Ray Burton, Jr.) and tagged him. It was
hysterical. I smile whenever I think of it.
-Carol P.
|
posted Nov 25, 2008 1:10 PM by Matt Perkins
[
updated Nov 25, 2008 1:17 PM
]
A few years back, when Eric and I shared the duties of driving our beloved green 1995 Ford Taurus, I noticed after a while that he had taken it upon himself to decorate it with various ornaments, one of them being a massive feather that stuck out of the passenger side visor.
He was in the car with me one day, as I think I was driving him somewhere. He was pretty quiet, and I remember asking him about the feather. The conversation that followed went something like this....
"Oh man, I never told you about that story?" he asked.
"No," I said, wondering what in God's name was coming my way.
"Oh man it was hilarious. We were driving around Harding Street one night, right? When all of a sudden I told whoever was driving to stop the car," he said.
"Why?"
"You ever drive up around there? Dude, there are friggin turkeys everywhere! So I jumped out of the car and ran after one and yanked this feather out of its ass!"
"What the......."
Another notch on the belt for the old bro, it seems.
-Matt P.
|
posted Nov 25, 2008 1:06 PM by Matt Perkins
[
updated Nov 25, 2008 1:08 PM
]
Eric's first year in little league, the fathers took turns umpiring
behind the plate. During my stint, I had no choice but to ring up a
number of players who wouldn't take the bat off their shoulders,
including my own son. On the way home, Eric complained how I could do
such a thing, especially to him. "If the pitch is over the
plate...SWING THE BAT !" I responded. He just grumbled and stared out
the window. A week later, on my way home from work, I stopped by his
game to watch him play. I had just taken delivery on a brand new
company car, and parked on the side of the street adjacent to the
infield. I watched through the windshield as Eric strode up to the
plate, bat in hand. He looked over at me and grinned, taking his place
in the batters box. He ripped at the first pitch and lined a foul ball
smack dab in my direction. The ball struck the front end of my
sparkling new Chevy with a thud.....leaving a nice dent in the fender.
After the game he walked over to me as I was checking out the damage.
"Don't blame me... YOU told me to swing the bat!." he said, laughing.
(I still bought him an ice cream !)
-Joe Perkins |
|
