Best son

I was talking with Austin on the way back from the movies last night. We had gone to see ‘Hotel for Dogs’. It was a fun one! He was asking me what type of games we played during recess when I was in elementary school. I told him we did Red Rover, Football, tag, Kickball, dodgeball, etc. Unfortunately, at his school, they have a ‘no physical contact’ rule, so none of those games are allowed. It is a sad thing how draconian their rules are that they would prevent some of these physical and fun activities. Austin then said: “I wish I had lived back when you were a kid so I could have played those games” . I likely didnt help his wishful thinking as I went on about how fun they were. Then, after a moment of reflection, he said: “Never mind, I wouldnt have wanted to live back then, because then you wouldnt have been my dad—and you are the best dad in the whole world”. That one totally choked me up. I told him how thankful I am that he is my son- that he is the best son in the whole world, I couldnt have been blessed with a better one.

[Reminiscence] The Proposal

February 11th, 1994.

Ahhh. Such a wonderful and stressful day that was. I barely was able to procure the ring before that special night. I had some help from Bryan Lampropoulos, who gave me $100 for the down payment (as my pre-emptive wedding gift) as I was quite the pauper at the time. I remember mom helped me pick it out, so I knew she was on board with me. :)
That night, we had a special dance/date planned at a restaurant that was on a river boat. It seemed like the perfect setting. (It was a girls choice dance her school had and luckily she invited me!) After we finished dinner, I gallantly asked her if she would like to go for a walk around the deck. When I found a private spot, I crouched down and told her I had "a rock" stuck in my shoe. (yes, it was veeeeeeeeeery clever, I know) I proceeded to reach down to pull it out as I got on one knee. After that, everything went blank. LeAnn tells me that I forgot to actually "pop the question", I just opened up the box and showed her the ring. So she made me get down and do it again. This time she said yes! It was the happiest day of my life.