Father's Day

Joaquin and I were very excited for father's day. Mostly, I was excited about giving presents. I had thought of gifts that I knew Daniel would love. The best was to be a new pocket knife. When I met Daniel he always had a pocket knife at his ready. I liked that. He would come to the rescue. While other men were helpless to fix a jammed ... or slice a mango, Daniel would come to the rescue. Then rushing to catch an airplane, he had to surrender his knife.

One Wednesday, Joaquin and I rode the bus across town to buy Daniel at new swiss army knife at the Wilderness Exchange. Joaquin, now a master sitter, sat on the floor drooling onto miniflashlights, while I examined the various sections. I picked a nicely pocketable one. And Joaquin and I trekked back home. That night I asked Daniel if I could give him his gift now. He said no. I had to wait.

The next week I was invited by my friend Christianna to paint father's day mugs at Brushstrokes in Berkeley. At first I wrinkled my nose- a paint-your-own-pottery place. There is a hilarious music video about those place called Lazy Monday. (Actually its a response to an equally hilarious Saturday Night Live music video Lazy Sunday.) Why is there an assumption that paint-your-own-pottery places are kind of pathetic? Anyway the thought of babyfoot stamped onto ceramics was just to cute for me to pass up. Actually Brushstrokes is really cool. I would go back. I like painting and its a great studio with a wide selection of paint brushes and paints. And my mug was quite fetching, if I say so myself. Joaquin did a good job of foot printing and of course having adorable toes.

At last Sunday morning arrived. I planned to make breakfast with Joaquin and let Daniel sleep in. Joaquin decided to sleep in until 8:20 that morning. He's been a regular 6:30 a.m. early bird of late. So I rose alone at 7:30 and went to wrap the pocket knife. Suddenly I couldnt remember where I hid it. I started looking around in my usual hiding spots and I couldnt find it. Not anywhere. Lost.

I laughed as I told Daniel. He did drink breakfast tea from his new mug- his world's best dad mug as he calls it.

The day turned into a lot of fun. We worked on our outdoor kitchen with our neighbor, listened to an outdoor concert with friends at Stern Grove in SF, and stayed for a city barbeque with fellow parents Jolie and Brian and their babe, Chasin. Joaquin has quite a joyful cooperator. It was a day to remember.

Epilogue:
Daniel found the pocket knife himself in my messenger back as he scrounged for bridge toll money on Monday night.