Flashbacks and Flash forwards

One of the great things about being a dad is that I get to see true innocence and honesty in their purest forms.....my children. I was watching my oldest son Tyler play with his toys the other day, and I was absolutely facinated. He had all of his Power Rangers out and they were involved in a top secret mission that would no doubt carry the fate of the free world on its outcome.
When I asked my son if I could play with him I was given a jolt that carried me back about 23 years. His reply....."No, daddy you don't know what they are all supposed to do."

Now, this may not mean much to many of you but to me I was immediately thrown back to my childhood bedroom in 1984. My younger brother Josh was an avid collector of GI Joe toys (Not the realistic soldiers, but the REAL AMERICAN HERO......YO JOE!!) He would pull all of his toys out and create a complete military universe that had the defenders of truth, GI Joe, pitted against the most diabolical terrorist group ever known......COBRA. His play sessions must have included multiple plots, themes, story lines, and circus animal that were intricately woven to form a cohesive story. Because, when I would ask him if I could play his immediate reply would be...."Don't be stupid you don't know what everyone is supposed to do."

This was only one of many things that existed in my brother's warped imagination....which by the way I am convinced was created as a direct result of being exposed to gamma rays from watching too much Brady Bunch(Didn't know that was one of his favorite shows did you?) Here are a few more examples of what a strange individual my brother is

1. The Penny Game....This was a game that was played with dozens of pennies poured out on the hearth of the fire place. Only Josh knew the rules.

2. Blue Man....This was Joshua's super hero that wore a BLACK cape and carried a yellow wiffle bat appropriately named EXCALI-BAT. Do I need to point out the obvious that there was absolutely no blue in his outfit? He would lay on his belly in the hall and crawl along the floor and grab the leg of the nearest human and gleefully declare..."Blue Man loves legs".

3. His afternoon snacks of Hostess Apple Pies and Gatorade.....Yummy.

My brother and I did not always see eye to eye on everything, but I am truly grateful for one thing he taught me. Anything can contain an adventure.....if you only can imagine.


God With You