foundational....

A couple of weekends ago I went to a party. By myself.
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The fellow that hosted it is a friend of my brother-in-law. I met this guy last year. Dave runs a tattoo studio, builds custom motorbikes, and just so happens to have directed possibly one of the greatest skate films out there: http://jasonjesseemovie.com/
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So naturally when Dave invited me to this crazy BBQ get together/party type of thing a while back, I was pretty keen to go.
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Turns out that Dave, in addition to doing all of the aforementioned stuff above, also happens to have a custom skate pool IN HIS BACKYARD. When I walked into the party there were at least a hundred folks there. Great BBQ, beers, a live band, and a custom skate pool IN THE BACKYARD ( I know I already mentioned this, but it deserves a second denotion because it's just so darn cool)
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Going to a party by yourself is kinda weird and also kinda goofy, but I wasn't sure if the boys would drive everyone nuts and if I would've been the only one there with offspring. Turns out I was wrong. There were loads of kiddies there, and the boys would have loved the skating. They're quite obsessed with the whole skateboard thing already.
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ANYWAY, as skating and punk rock pretty much serve as my foundations of my youth, I've noticed that as I get older that stuff still remains. I found myself alone at this party. I didn't know anyone except Dave, but it didn't matter. There is something pretty interesting about feeling right at home amongst people you don't even know, but because you all are into the same thing and are collectively hanging out, it's all good.
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In short, it's one of those times where you feel completely comfortable in your own skin. Yeah, I'm getting older, but yeah I still like the rocknroll, the skating, the tattoos, and to be surrounded by like-minded folks is like stepping into an old pair of jeans. It just feels easy.
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Considering all of this, it makes me realize just how all of these things from my youth stuck with me, and now serve as some kind of forward compass. OK, I don't get out to shows that often now, and I don't skate that often now, but it all still lives in me.
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So, I wonder, what will be those things that grab my sons by their souls and work their way to become their foundations? Will they find themselves 30 years from now at some party with a beer in hand cheering on some dude skating a pool? Maybe not, but it will be very interesting to see whatever it is that captures them.

Character(s)....

There are certain moments that come to pass when I feel my heart is too full.

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I watch my sons grow. I now have little boys in front of me that have replaced the babies that were once there.

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We have little conversations these days. Their ability to develop language astounds me. Because our daycare lady only speaks to them in Spanish they are learning two languages at once. It's quite something.

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On a sidenote, the other day one of the boys let loose a....uh.....a bit of flatulence. I laughed a bit and he looked at me with a deadpan stare and said: "Pedo". Pedo? What the heck is that? I've notice they say it often when they burp one out from the behind, so I figured it must be Spanish. I asked our caregiver about it, and sure enough, it means exactly what I thought it did. My little blonde, blue eyed boys say "fart" in Spanish.

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ANYWAY, right now is the most engaging time we've ever had with them. They speak to us, they ask us questions, they pet the dog and call him by his name, they're learning to swim, they sit on park benches and drink their juice.

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It's unbelievably fun and sometimes, my heart really does feel too full.