I have a habit of listening to my wife and kids with my eyes, nodding and saying yes, when I really should be listening with my ears. You heard me right. They ask me stuff that I don’t quite hear properly, then agree to it, only to realize all too late that I’m off to visit someone I didn’t want to, or have to go sell cookies door to door, or need to go to some stranger’s wedding.
I don’t know if it’s a ‘guy’ thing, although I have heard this lament all too often from other ladies. If it is, it must also be something genetic, as my own father does it as well. I know this, because he’s the reason I got to go to so many parties when I was young. I would ask him when he was occupied. This especially worked well during televised hockey games. He’s still easy to ask for stuff. So, I guess, it really must be genetic.
My son Mackie knows me best. I’m allergic to tomato soup. This is relevant, trust me. I’m also addicted to tomato soup. And the reaction I get when I eat it is that I become lethargic and easy to lead. I have actually fallen asleep while eating it. He waits until it’s time for tomato soup, then pops all kinds or weird requests on me. If you’re driving by my house, and happen to notice a couple of Alpacas tied up in our yard, you can be sure tomato soup is somehow involved.
And so, knowing all this, Alex got me good the other day. He didn’t do it on purpose, but it’s a good lesson for all: listen when being asked something.
There I was, surfing on my laptop, and watching a program with Alex. I had eaten tomato soup. My brain was in a slight fog. And so, Alex chose this moment to pop what turned out to be a huge question on me. Innocently, as he is innocent, he asked me ever so politely, ‘Dad….do you think you’d watch the series ‘24’ with me?’ And I, in my stupor, said ‘Sure, buddy!’
You know that saying when you feel the other sandbag fall on your head? Well, this is how it felt when I asked him how many episodes there are of ‘24’. He looked at me, and calmly responded ‘192, dad!’
192? One hundred and ninety-two? That’s 192 hours of ‘24’!! If we were to watch this show all the way through, non-stop, it would take 8 full days. If we were to watch only one episode a day, it would take more than six months!! That’s a huge commitment!
One thing I try to never do is make a promise and not keep it. It’s one of those things. I hate it when someone does it to me. So, I try not to do it back. That’s not to say that I don’t break my promises. It’s just that I really try not to, and so I don’t make them unless I’m pretty sure I can keep them. And, I had just promised to watch 192 hours of a show that I had no idea if it was good or not.
As it turns out, we’ve watched one season, and it was very good. I still have seven seasons to wade through, and I’m also spending some good time with Alex. And I’d like to say that I’ve learned my lesson, and am listening much closer to what I’m asked. But, me being me, I’m pretty sure I haven’t, yet.
Bill's Musings 