Braving Boys

Catch and Release

There’s not a whole lot this boy loves. Well, he does have a fondness for candy, his iPod Touch, lounging on his bed watching TV, and most anything that costs us money and counts as a toy or a treat. But out of all the life-enriching activities endorsed by us, the parents, there’s really only one biggie that makes the cut — fishing. (Well, there is gardening, too, but it comes in a distant second.)

Joey is good at lots of things, like school, piano, drama, football, and basketball, but none of these register as favorites in any way, shape, or form. Sure, he likes to tackle me in the aisles of Walmart just for fun, toss the ball around with his dad in random fields, and crush his little brother in backyard hoops. Put him on a team, though, or anything formal and organized, and while he’ll play along, he won’t be all that interested. A boat, now, or a dock — transport him to one or the other, and a happy boy, you will see. It’s beautiful, really, how our boy, who first started challenging us the day he was born, can become so still, peaceful, and patient. He has no problem rising in the wee and dark hours of the morning, trekking all over the state of Florida, working tirelessly for a good catch and release or a cast net full of shrimp, and while he does have a bit of an issue with cleaning the boat, he does it, because he knows it’s part of the deal.

I don’t know how it happened — how he came to pick fish over footballs — but ask him to head out to the water, and he’s there, content for the long haul, and plotting out the next big trip. Will his love affair continue? I’m not sure. But for now, we’re embracing this hobby that makes our boy happier than anything else in this big world. (Oh, and for good measure, we’re also forcing him to stick with piano, because, have you ever known an adult who gave up on lessons as a kid who doesn’t now regret the decision? Well, we haven’t, and if you have, please don’t tell Joey or Danny.)

A boy and his piano

There once was a boy who attended a piano workshop. He wasn’t sure it was the instrument he wanted to pursue, but he faithfully showed up, and he plugged away at the lessons. Twice a week he went back, and on all the other days, he practiced. He did well, and somewhere during the course of his study, he started enjoying what he was doing. So did his brother, who glared at his mom from a bench on day No. 1, angry she was forcing him into this activity.

It’s been nearly four months since that first lesson, and for two of those months, the boy and his brother have been taking private lessons from the man who taught the workshop. He says he’s impressed with what he hears, and so is the mom. What charms her most is that this boy, who would have rather been perched in front of a computer screen instead of learning to read music this summer, seems so natural at the keyboard. His little fingers know right where to go, he sways a bit to the sounds he creates, and much of the time, he doesn’t even look at his music book. Once he learns the song, it’s in his head, and he can crank it out on command. This skill — the memorizing of songs — has earned the boy double stickers on some lesson days, and he has collected 12 in all. This week, he turns them in for a prize. He doesn’t know yet what it will be (he’s secretly hoping it’s the adorable puppy living at the teacher’s house!), but on Wednesday, he will find out. He’ll also find out how well he does on this-week’s songs. Mom is betting he rattles off some beauties, and it’s pretty possible another two stickers will be awarded.

Way to play, Danny! You make your momma proud!

Danny is such a good singer, and I really don’t think I’m saying that just because I’m his mom. He’s got that raspy, throaty sound, and when he belts out his favorite tunes, I just marvel at what he can deliver. He’s not convinced he’s all that good, and so he sneaks at singing, turns his vocals into baby babble when he knows we’re watching, and he flat out refuses to let us record him. “Hot Dog” was the last time we got a video camera near him.

Danny thinks football is in his future, because, well, he’s winding up his first season of flag, and that’s how he knows he probably has a shot at playing center as a pro. But me, well, I think he’s more likely to be a performer of some sort. And just as soon as I capture some more audio of my singing boy, I’ll be sure to share.

For now, though, just imagine a 6-year-old boy watching this video (his No. 1 pick at the moment), and cranking out the lyrics like a superstar.

2nd row, 3rd from right

Today was Joey’s third-grade play. In first grade, he did the “ocean” play and in second grade, he did the “nuts” play, and today, it was all about space. The show was great. He was great. He looked alive up there on stage, he sang, he even did some choreographed moves. I told him it was his best perfomance ever. He said I tell him that every year. I mean it every year — he just keeps getting better. And crazier, too — see photo.

Anyone who knows John is aware that the guy is a seasoned concert-goer. Name just about any 70s or 80s performers, and it’s likely he’s seen one (or more) of their shows.

Journey, yep.
ZZ Top, sure enough.
Ozzy, you betcha.
Styx, on more than one occasion.
Loverboy, seen ‘em too.
Air Supply — yes, even Air Supply.

And three times over, my hubby has seen his favorite band of all time: KISS. He’s about to see them again. He’s taking Joey, Danny and me along for the ride. John is over the moon. The boys are pumped to check out the guys their dad worships. Yours truly? Three words:

Heaven help me.

If things don’t work out with the whole shoe store manager thing, 6-year-old Danny could always be a rock star. Here, one of the tracks he’s been working on — “Hot Dog.” He filmed this music video in his studio (bedroom), with just a video camera and a guitar. One song came before this one (“Hot Lava Gun”) and a few came after (“Room Number,” “Time of My Life,” Get the Autograph”), but this is our all-time fave.