Maddenation
Innocence
Over the weekend, when Karina and Kathleen were out shopping and the boys (plus Adi) were taking 3-D pictures, Pato and I were alone in the back yard. I don’t remember the circumstances very well, but I noticed that Pato was in the “tree house” sitting quietly on the upper level. He had earlier turned down the opportunity to go with his dad and uncles to run errands and take pictures. I decided to go out and see how he was doing. I stuck my head up over the ramp in the back and saw Pato with his head down, arms on his knees, looking sad. I asked him if he wanted to do anything and he mumbled “no” in a quiet voice. I said OK and that I’d give him more time. Then I walked back to the deck and up the stairs.
As I neared the back door, Pato, who was now standing on the slide facing me, asked me, “Grandpa, what’s more time?”
“More time means that I go back in the house for 5 or 10 minutes and then come back out to see how you’re doing.”
Then Pato said something precious and wonderful. “Grandpa, I don’t need more time.”
I said good, and Pato came walking by with a big smile on his face, saying he knew what he wanted to play. Then he spelled it out for me: Y-U-G-I-O-H.
Dad • Stories • 04/15/04 • 2 comments
Comments
Patrick • 04/22/04 • 10:06 AM:I just wanted to thank you, Dad, for recording this simple, inspiring story. We all know that children are wonderful and wise, good examples to us, but we rarely remember specific instances of their wisdom. Here is one (and I hope we will record others).
Patrick • 01/14/06 • 5:13 PM:I found this entry again because it was linked from mine about Pato’s wondering what Grandpa didn’t have when he was a boy. I see that I’ve already said this, but I’ll say it again: this is what the blog is about: recording these wonderful memories. I had completely forgotten this. Thank you, Dad, for recording it.
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