Fun Friday – Read the Small Print

 

A gift of  brotherly love

Tupac Shakur was a popular rap artist in the 1990’s. One of my sons was born the same year that Tupac died, yet both of my sons talk about Tupac’s music as though they were around at the time of his fame. My older son surprised his brother by visiting him at college, with a birthday gift in hand. It was a small gesture, but one he knew his brother would appreciate. Maybe.

My older son entered his brothers’ apartment with a broad grin across his face and holding the gift behind his back. “I got you something.” He whipped out a rolled-up poster that had a quote along the side. “This is you Bro, read the quote.”

“…by the words of His mouth…okay, that’s nice.”

“It’s a Tupac poster.”

My younger son began unrolling the poster, “Um, I don’t think this is a Tupac poster.” Stars and constellations danced on the poster as my son read the entire  quote to his brother.

“By the word of the Lord the heavens were made and the stars, by the word of His mouth” – Psalm 33:6

As my son recanted this story to me over the phone I said, “Did you get Tupac confused with Jesus?”

I told my son about an old spiritual song parishioners used to sing at my grandfathers’ church. The lyrics were, take the Lord along with you everywhere you go; You’re gonna’ need Him, everywhere you go.

The poster error was one way of telling my sons they needed a little more Jesus and a little less Tupac. I still had one lingering question for my son, “How did you think you had a Tupac poster?”

The answer was simple, “I just grabbed the wrong one, the posters were all next to each other.”

Read the small print and now what you’re getting. It’s not always bad, just know what you’re getting.

Have you ever misread a label?

Fun Friday – Home for the Holidays

A throwback memory

The Holiday season can be crazy busy with people dashing here and there. It is also an opportunity to appreciate the little things that bring great joy. Family home for the Holidays satisfies my immediate joy, in an amusing manner.

College Kids

College kids. Can we still call them kids if they’re in college? Anyway, both of mine are home. I had temporarily forgotten what it felt like to have both my young adults home. It didn’t take long for the flood of memories to resurface.

My house is well lit on the inside, with lights on in every room…rooms that are unoccupied. I guess this is my gift to the utility company. Perhaps the lights were left on so I could see the stack of empty pizza boxes that never made it to the trash.

Before I make it to where the pizza boxes reside, I stop along the way to pick up sweatpants, a hoodie and one sock. The bending and stooping serve as a prelude to my exercise regimen. It’s wonderful to have my offspring home, but I believe they’ve forgotten the house rules.

A few of the rules are fairly simple…

--if you take it out, put it away.

--turn off lights when leaving a room.

--take care of other chores as assigned.

The sound of a T.V. blares from a bedroom, there are sounds of grunting and bumping against a wall, and lots of laughter. My college kids are home for the Holidays, creating more memories.

Another trip down memory lane

Mama’s House

Ahhh, Mama’s house, always a place of comfort; moments filled with laughter, watching movies and napping after dinner. Before to trekking off to my mom’s house for Thanksgiving dinner, the following conversation ensued.

My brother (to mom): What do you want me to bring to your house on Thanksgiving?

Mama: A hammer, nails, screwdriver and a plunger. I have a lot of things that need to be fixed.

Me:      I’ll be there after all the work is done.

A short while after this conversation, I received a text from mom that said, “Your brother will bring tools and make Kool-Aid.”

I said, “Is he using the tools for the Kool-Aid?”

The tools were not for the Kool-Aid. My mom got her home repairs, we ate a small feast and enjoyed everyone being home for the Holidays.

Wishing you a season of all things joyous.