A Father and Son

I had to do some shopping yesterday, so I ventured out to the local ‘grab and get’. While trying to locate my favorite goodies, this older gentleman rounded the corner with a grocery cart. As he did so, the man turned and looked back over his shoulder and said, ” Well, come on. I think those smoked oysters are down this isle.” The man stood there for a couple of beats, exhaled, rolled his eyes and then apologized to me for blocking my way. I smiled and explained that I wasn’t in a hurry as he passed by me. By this time, an even older gentleman rounded the same corner. He had one of those walkers with wheels on the front legs. It even had hand brakes with little lights on the end of the hand brake part which looked like tail lights on a car! I promise I couldn’t make this up.

After they had both passed, I continued on with my quest for pistachios. In the mist of all my rampant thoughts, I had totally forgot about another item that was back on the aisle that I had just left, so after successfully stalking and killing my prey (pistachios), I returned to the previous aisle. Low and behold there were the two men. They were both standing there studying several products and their ingredients.

As I passed them, I tried to hear what they were saying without getting caught. One man was saying to the other, “Dad, it says right here, ‘smoked’ oysters. They’re not sardines.” Without allowing another word to be utter by his son, the father interjected, “Then why is that a picture of sardines on the can?” The son then exclaimed, “What? No, that’s oysters, isn’t it?” The dad then replied, “If you’d put on your glasses you might be able to read something!” It was at this point that the father notice me watching them. He smirked at me and winked while his son dug around his jacket trying to find his glasses. By this time I had found what I had forgotten, grabbed it, and then proceeded to pass once more the lively father and son. As I did, I noticed that they were both wearing the same cologne. I’m almost positive it was High Karate.

As I exited the isle and made my way to the front of the store, it hit me out of nowhere. How cool was that. Being able to live a long life with your dad. How cool is it that these guys still get to go shopping together. Who knows? Maybe they still get out and go fishing. I instantly plummeted back to my times with my dad. I’ll never get to grow old with him. I’ll never get to argue whats on the label of something. I’ll never get to go fishing one last time.

I left the store trying to focus on something else.

Hopefully, my wife and I will be blessed to grow old together, arguing with our kids as to ‘Who’s turn it is to change our diapers!’

I miss you dad.