Saturday, December 01, 2012

#131. or, Week 8, Get-away give-away answers.

Over the last 8 weeks, I've been following along and answering questions as often as I've been able, over at Carrie's, Hammock in the Honeysuckle site. Last Sunday, she asked her last question, well, 2 questions to be more exact. Tomorrow, she will draw from the entries of everyone who linked up with her, by answering her questions.

  The 2 questions she posed last week were:

  1. If you could be locked in somewhere overnight, where would it be, and what would you do? Would you be by yourself, or with someone, and if so, who?

  2.  Many of us have one moment or decision that, if we could go back, we would choose differently. If you could go back and get a do over, what would you do?

  To answer the 2nd question first, I think that I would like to go back and spend more time with my older boys when they were younger and in the lower grades in school.

  When my family was young, I was working pretty hard. I used to think that that was the important thing that I had to do to provide for my family. I pretty much missed all of the events that happened in school and the field trips that went on while my oldest son was in school. I was always the guy who couldn't quite find the time to make it to the assembly,  because there was one more important thing going on, that needed to get done first.

  After my father passed away, I realized that I was misguided in that thinking. I tried to be more involved in what my kids were doing and made the time to be there. I got my bus driver's licence so I could drive on field trips, and followed my boys to basketball trips and all of the school activities that I could manage.

  My two oldest boys are done school now, my youngest son is in grade 7. This is the first year that there isn't any Christmas concerts to go to and if there are any field trips, most likely, I won't be asked to drive the bus. I'm finding that I'm missing that. Especially this time of year. I kind of enjoyed watching the class programs that the little kids put on for the holidays. I wish that I could have been there more often to watch my older boys do their presentations.

  If I had a do over, I wish I could go back and give those little kids the attention that they deserved when they were smaller. Because before you know it, they're not little kids anymore, and if you blinked, you just might have missed some of the most magical times ever.

 So, for the first question, If you could be locked in somewhere overnight, where would it be, and what would you do? Would you be by yourself, or with someone, and if so, who?

  On Carrie's post, she talked about spending the night in one of those grand bookstores, surrounded by books of every nature. At first, I thought that sounded pretty good. I love to read. My problem is, that I'm a notoriously slow reader. I just like to take my time. If I didn't quite understand a paragraph, I'll go back and reread it just to be clear. I might spend 4 months reading a book. My favorite time to read is in bed just before falling asleep, and more often than not, I'll wake up with the book on my chest. So, maybe the bookstore isn't the best plan for me?

  Then I thought, I might like to be locked in a Victoria's Secret store with my wife. OH, the time I could have, watching her try all of those frilly things on! But, I'm no spring chicken anymore. I'm almost 45. With all of that visual stimulation, I'd be attacking my wife with all of the determination of an 18 year old, but these days, anything much more than a half hour, is a marathon. Then of course, I'd need a nap, and probably wouldn't wake up until the morning. So that might not be the best plan either?

  Maybe, I might like to spend some uninterrupted time exploring the The Kennedy Space Center in Florida. I've always loved rockets and space and the idea of suiting up travelling into orbit and looking back on the Earth.  I think they would have some pretty amazing things to look at. I might sit in a simulator and imagine that I'm circling the moon. Just look things over and get familiarized, just in case, one day, they need some middle-aged farmer to go into space to save the world.

  You better believe that I'd rock that intense, slow-motion walk.



    ................although, actually leaving the ground and throwing up might not be so cool?


  Anyways, that's my answers. Whether I win or not, doesn't really matter. I've got to connect with a bunch of fun people over the course of The Great Get-Away Give-Away Contest. That's the important thing here. I've made some new friends. And, I got to link back to Carrie's site multiple times, which is good too. She's a pretty awesome blogger, and I would encourage you just to stop over and take a look at her site and what she has to say. I'm quite certain that you'll want to stop back again.

22 comments:

  1. I was looking for your post all week!! was a little worried that you had been stumped but no you came to the challenge awesomely!! Boy I really like your do-over answer top notch Ken... top notch!!! Good luck to you oh I hope I can just leave the computer alone tomorrow all together and then log in on Tuesday or Wed and see TA DUM I won hahha but I will be happy with any of the peeps that played I agree with you we did make some cool new friends on this!! Happy Travels :0

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    1. Sorry to worry you. I had intended to be in more mid-week, but it just sort of got away from me.

      Thanks so much for saying those nice things. I find myself missing the small boys I had, this time of year.

      The other day, I was having some trouble trying to come up with a place to get locked in over night. My wife and I were laying in bed and I was thinking about it so I asked her. We got to thinking about all of these silly places and all of the bad things that could have gone wrong by being there and we were laughing like crazy. I worry about my posts getting too long so I couldn't use all of them, but it was a lot of fun and it helped me to come up with a few for that question.

      Whoever wins, it's going to be awesome! :)

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  2. Hello my friend!!

    You are too much - trapped in Victoria's Secret. As you described in your comment above, I bet you two came up with some zany ideas! Glad you could laugh - there's nothing better!

    I completely understand your wishing you'd spent more time when your older boys were small. In a way, I can relate to that because when I started teaching and it consumed so much of my time, I wish I could go back and do that differently, or better somehow. It is ironic that I chose this career path thinking it would be conducive with a family, and in some ways it was, but on a day-to-day basis, I was always preoccupied or stressed, rendering me not as effective as a Mom some days. But as we've all said, it is what it is at the time, and we can only function within the realm of our current understanding. In your case, you felt your biggest priority was to provide, and on the good side of that, your boys probably gained an understanding of strong work ethic and hard work. We parents could beat ourselves up endlessly for all our shortcomings, but we really should give ourselves a break and know that most of the time, we did the best we knew how at the time. Our kids turned out well and for that I am grateful!

    Guess we'll all find out later the results of the contest! Whoo hoo!

    :)

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    1. Hello, my friend!

      It really was a fun, unplanned, lazy morning that we rarely seem to have these days. :)

      I know that I am able to do the things that I can with my kids today, because of the work that I did back then. I know though, that I could have made better choices to attend at least a few more of my kids functions.

      I wish I had then, the perspective that I have now, with the luxury of being able to look back and see some of the mistakes I was making. But I expect, I might be looking back on my life, 20 years from now, wishing that I had done some of the things I do today a bit differently as well.

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  3. I like the air in space museum in DC. I have actually worked in there a few times. It's really neat to see some of those space craft up close.

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    1. Hi Holly,

      That is exactly the sort of thing I was thinking about. I've been to our provincial aviation museum, and it was pretty cool. Stepping it up to see some of the space stuff would be wonderful.

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  4. Got my fingers crossed for you in the draw!

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  5. I love how you answered #2. time goes so fast, too fast. I was always there with my kids but I wish I could go back and enjoy it more instead of being either stressed out or feeling bogged down by the daily grind of it. More patience, too.

    VS would be fun but you're right. Wed then need a tv for a movie or two and some couches to lay on and then we might as well just be at home. The space cent would be cool, though. I'd choose Carrie's, a private lock down in barnes and noble. Hope you win!

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    1. Thanks Gina,

      I think you have a point about being less stressed, and enjoying yourself and the things you do with your family a bit more.

      There's always something to be said for spontaneity, However, the older we get, the more planning I like my spontaneity to have. But not too much. It's nice to be caught off guard sometimes. :)

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  6. One of the things I appreciate most about your writing, Ken, is your willingness to be real, to share yourself warts and all with us. I think most parents, at least working parents, have some regrets about the times they missed out on their kids activities and events because of work obligations. Back in the days when my kids were young there was no getting off work early for such things, and I'm glad employers are more flexible now. The thing is, that despite our regrets on what we missed out on, our kids are turning out great, and they know for a fact they are loved, that's the most important thing... it will always be quality over quantity!

    I loved your ideas for spending the night in lockdown. I wonder how many of us could actually stay up all night anymore. By 1 or 2 AM I'd be falling asleep for sure, but happily so. The Space Center sounded like a great night time adventure, and if they ever do send a farmer to space, you'd get my vote for sure... as long as you promise to blog while you're away! :-) Good luck in the contest, it's been great fun!

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    1. Thanks so much Josie!

      You're absolutely right with things being a little different today as opposed to even 15 years ago. We all did our best with the tools we had. We just hope that in the end, it's enough.

      The nights end quite a bit earlier than they did in the past, don't they? :)

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  7. I really really really like your do-over. My Dad worked 3 jobs so Mom could stay home with the four of us kids but he and Mom always managed to make it to all of my home games and I loved knowing they were in the stands cheering me on. I think that it so cool that you got your bus drivers license and were able to be a part of so many things once it became a priority. That's so great. And also...

    " You better believe that I'd rock that intense, slow-motion walk."

    LOL!!!! Love it!

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    1. Hey VV,

      I think it's so important just being there at events. I was amazed at the number of parents who just drop their kids off at the door and never, ever come in to see what's going on.

      I'm glad that I was able to make you smile. :)

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  8. Loved it! Your do-over is a worthy one, but I think you already made up for it by getting your bus driver's license and driving field trips! That's awesome, Ken.

    And I loved your Victoria's Secret wish. Especially after reading your reply to Back to Being Me. That is the kind of marriage I want, where I can lay in bed and laugh about silly things, but still turn my husband on enough for him to want to see me in lingerie :)

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    1. Hi there, Kianwi.

      I've had so much fun driving on some field trips in the past couple years. I'm so glad that I did it.

      I'm certain that you will find that guy for you, Kianwi. He's out there looking for you too. :)

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  9. Victoria's Secrets? Judging by your response I have a feeling you and your wife don't need Victoria's secrets---I have a feeling you have a few secrets of your own.

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    1. Hi Stephen.

      I think that my wife and I do have a few secrets of our own. The bad part is, our secrets aren't quite as lucrative an Victoria's are.

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  10. I loved your answers! Made me laugh, and think. Good luck to you on the draw!

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    1. Thank you, McGuffy Anne.

      Having already discovered that you've won the trip at this time, I couldn't be happier for you. I hope that you and your husband can spend some quality time, away on your trip! Well done! :)

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  11. A winner has been selected and posted! Ken, I am grateful for you as one of my dearest blog friends. Thank you for being a part, and for guest posting and for being my friend!!!!

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    1. Hey Carrie,

      It was fun, guest hosting for you during this contest. I'm happy that you considered me worthy of having my post on your site. I couldn't have thought of a better place to be a quest host for the very first time. I hope you don't mind, but it sort of made me feel like I was a bit of a part of your contest from your side of the post.

      Finding you as a friend, has been one of the brightest spots in my near year at doing this. I was quite fortunate to discover your blog. :)

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