You didn’t think that I would just up and give up, now did you?

I would hope not. Especially those of you who actually know me. I don’t give up. I refuse. I might put something down for a bit, but I always come back to it. Hell, I am the guy who put the guitar down for close to 25 years, and took it back up again.

Of course I had to eliminate a wife out of my life before that happened, but I still think that it was worth it.

Yeah. Very much so.

So. This Sunday is Fathers Day. Making this Fathers Day weekend. Sunday is also the first day of Summer. The Summer Solstice. The longest day of the year. So, those of you who still have Fathers can spend more time with him.

Or not.

There was a minor flap this year because of a toilet paper company honoring single Moms on Fathers Day. Saying the there have been some Moms who have been both Father and Mother to their children, so they should be honored on both days.

The argument goes both ways in that there are single fathers out there who have been both Father and Mother to their kids. Why weren’t they honored on Mothers day?

A tempest in a teapot as far as I am concerned. There are families where the family unit was intact, but one parent or the other took the lead in rearing the kids. Sometimes the Mother shouldered the burden, sometimes it was the Father.

I wonder quite a bit why we have to have these things to discuss and argue about? I actually started to type “silly things” but thought better of it. That self-censorship I talked about in a previous post. Because those kind of issues are not small, or silly issues to some.

And I appreciate that, and I respect that. Just don’t try to drag me onto your bandwagon. I got better things to do in my life.

Like tubing.

Yep. Floating down a river on an inner tube. Awesome. in concept. And then reality rears its ugly head. Let’s set the stage.

Heat index of 104. Intense sunshine, high humidity, cool river water. Given that mix of items, the only intelligent thing to do other than sit around all day in air conditioning….boring….or hang out in a dark, cool bar sipping on cool drinks….even more boring, not to mention dangerous was to go tubing. To be partially submerged in cool water, lazily floating along.

Unfortunately, I am not shaped like a typical human male. I am more shaped like a simian. Large chest, narrower hips. Consequently, I  do not fit into a standard inner tube comfortably. And I didn’t think to ask for a larger tube. So float we did. Part of an incredible cross section of society. Kids with their parents. Kids without their parents. College kids, both drunk and sober. Grandparents with their kids, and grandkids. Employed, unemployed, partially employed all kinds of folks in their swim wear….river wear….floating wear…whatever.

I think I got fried. And I am not even going to make it out to be more than what it is.

Just the kind of guy I am, yo.