Another Equation

What were your parents doing at your age?

I was on a hike, above Heidelberg, yesterday with my little sister and we both speculated this question.

Neither of us had any idea what our parents were doing. I have no idea what happens after we die, but still speculated.

At least that was about my mother. Even as I think about this question deeper, my mind goes into a whirlwind of blurry mess inside a labyrinth. We had no idea.

Dad

Our dad was doing the same thing he did in his entire life. He was an expert at doing absolutely nothing. It was an art form I wish I had inherited. He was probably putting a dish in the refrigerator that would remain there for the next 10 years.

He would pick up the phone and tell me an interesting antidote. It was beginning of spring training and he would be reading everything about the upcoming baseball season. Then he walked to the refrigerator and put a few pieces of the ham and some mustard on a sandwich. He would then turn on the golf channel and forget he wanted potato chips.

It was a noble existence, even though they’ve been divorced for years. I wonder if he ever thought what my mom was doing.

I doubt it.

2026 -21 = 2005

It’s all conjecture and I think my perspective is a little jaded. His had a challenging existence, but he was many years out of beating alcoholism himself. I am declaring him a hero today.