Well, Jabba, this is a great picture that really brings back memories. My middle son, Jonathon, was just like your son, always wanting to be with me and help out, and, like you obviously do, I let him. I got him his first bike around 4 or 5, a Honda 50 to ride with my supervision in the yard and nurseries behind us. Fast forward 20 years. My Big Boy is now almost 27 and I have to admit, probably my best friend. Don't get me wrong, things are great with my oldest son (37 with precious grandsons that are your son's age) and daughter (23 - living at home and going to school), but Jonathon is special. Sure he has his own life, working all day and having his own social life, even a new girl friend, but he calls daily, and we ride often. Currently he has a Goldwing and an ST1300, and we ride and wrench together often (he calls me his mentor). I figure as long as he wants to spend time with his old man, no matter how tired or ill I might feel, I'll do it. There are way too many kids who don't care to spend time with their parents, and I know the time will come when he's tied up with his own family and we don't see him or do things together so often, but I know he'll always be special and find time to be with his mom and me whenever he can. Enjoy it and foster it, Jabba; the investment will grow exponentially. By the way, my ringtone for him when he calls is "Buckaroo" by Rodney Adkins. If you're not familiar with it, check it out.
crap Joe... makin'g me cry man. I know the song, and it's a tear jerker for me every time.
The way I figure it... he's gonna be my ONLY kid. I am 42. The wife is 42. We been married for 19 years. Don't see a new, younger model on the horizon. My ol'man was a drunk, and me and him never really DID get along. My mentors were my older brothers. They are 11 and 16 years older than I am. I know good parents raise bad kids sometimes, but I am gonna try my damndest to raise mine right. Instill a good work ethic in him, and be a good role model. If I can end up his friend and mentor too, I'll count myself a LUCKY man. You obviously ARE.
Glad I could shake a memory out of your foggy OLD brain there brother.
Jabba
