The Gift Is In The Giving

I recently turned 38 and started to wonder where the time went. I mean I still remember squeezing girls asses in elementary school and running away before they slapped me, " scratching my head" or was that Yesterday? Anyway I hate my B-day, I hate getting older, I hate having to act like i'm getting better when I know my body is trying to find ways to kill me daily. So What do I do ? Get depressed? Start a low carb diet so I can have the body of a twenty year old? Flirt with women 15 years younger than me to boost the ego? No. Instead I reflected, Took a look around and realized I am blessed to have had so many things. Now I figure its my turn to give back some of the love and commitment I have recieved throughout the years.


Yesterday after returning from Martha's Vineyard Shawnla's surprise B-day gift to MOI! We drive to the babysitter and pick up her son Little D. We get there and he gets in the car with this sullen look on his face. Now Little D is the quiet type but he's never that quiet so Shawnla turns around, smiles at him and says " Whats wrong baby" Little D looks up , eyes widen and he gives his usual grin and responds " Nothing mommy" Shawnla " Did you have a good weekend?" Little D " Yes Mommy" Shawnla turns back around, looks at me, shakes her from side to side, because her intuition is telling her something is wrong.


We're in the Apt now. Little D is still too quiet for Shawnla's taste so she sits him down on the couch and interrogates him some more, but Little D is sticking to the same story that nothing is wrong and all is good in his world. I ask Shawnla " What were you and the baby sitter talking about earlier " Shawnla responds " This and that. You know she always trying to gossip about somebody" she turns to Little D " I heard Mikey(babysitters son) got a new bike" Little D doesn't turn to look at his mom and nods his head in response. I realized then why he was being so quiet.

I get up from the chair I was sitting in and calmly say to Little D " Lets go" He looks up at me and responds " Where ? I say " To a place where bikes are in abundance" Little D looks at me puzzled " Abundance? " I laugh. Little D looks over at Shawnla for answers and she responds" Remember that suprise I told you about." Little D smiles " Yeah " Shawnla is grinning ear to ear now " SURPRIIIIISE! "

We both leave. Little D is still a bit confused about whats going on " Mr Slish are you taking me to get a bike ? I respond " Yup " Little D walks over to the drivers side of The Batmobile before he opens the door he asks "How can you afford to buy me a bike? What about your bills? I smile at him and respond " Little D when you get older you'll realize that if you work really hard you can pay your bills and buy nice things for the people that you care about. " He opens the car door and gets in I continue " Little D i'm not getting you this bike because your friend got one. Your good grades in school and the fact that you showed great character by not whining to your mother about not having one is the reason why. You're a great kid Little D and I'm a firm believer that Great kids should be rewarded." Little D smiles, fastens the seat belt around him, and we pull off.

10 minutes later Little D and I are in the store. He's trying to get the most inexpensive bike. I think to myself " This boy just like his mama" I guide him over to a Red and Chrome 21 speed Mongoose dirt bike. It glowed as it sat there all by itself. I look down at Little D " THIS is the bike! " Little D looks up at me then at the bike. His eyes widen " Yeeeeeah! " I call the attendant over " We'll take this one! " Attendant takes the bike off of the rack. Little D hops on it and rides it all the way to the cash register.

As we're walking out of the store . The security guard says to Little D " Yo little man! Thats a HOT bike ! Little D smiles at the security guard and nods in Agreement. Then he stops, walks over to me , places both his arms around my waste and says " Thank you Mr Slish "


That right there was the best birthday gift anyone could have given me.