Friday, November 19, 2010

"Daddy wants to RASSEL!"

Back in the day… when technology hadn’t completely taken over our lives, there were no cordless phones, cell phones, video recorders, digital cameras, or microwave ovens. We listened to our music on large black CD like discs that were about 9 inches across, we called them records or LPs.
Many fathers had already invented their own version of the remote control. The need to flip channels is somehow bred into a man! My dad had just such an invention. He would sit in his chair and say, “Kathy, get up and turn to channel 16. Can you turn it up too?” Instant remote control!
We had a large console television – it sat in a large wooden cabinet low to the ground with speakers on each side built in. It was quite a formidable piece of furniture. Sometimes, for whatever reason, my dad would want to switch channels himself. Perhaps he was looking for a specific show, or wanted to listen to more than one news report, and wanted to be able to switch back and forth quickly. Anyway, he would lie on the floor directly in front of the TV, close enough that he could reach the dial and turn the channel.
When we would see him in this prone position I remember getting goose bumps of anticipation!
If I happened to be lucky enough to be the first to witness the opportunity, I would come behind him and he would put his one arm up for me to duck under. We would cuddle for a moment. Then I would whisper, “Daddy, you want to wrestle?” …hoping.
Then with his free arm he would pull me up over the top of him, and we would tickle and wrestle… The whole time, I would be yelling, “Daddy wants to RASSEL! Daddy wants to RASSEL!” calling the rest of the kids to come and join the fun! Whoever wasn’t already in the mêlée would come running and jump on top of dad.
My child’s mind had no idea of time, but it seemed like this would go on for hours, until we were all out of breath and sweaty. My hair would be sticking to my face and neck as I would back up from the scene looking for a space for me to jump back into the fracas!
What wonderful memories! I always knew that my dad liked having kids. I always knew that he loved being with us! What a wonderful home we had, where we expressed our love for one another, and played with all our might!
Determine to let your children know that you enjoy them! Play with them! I would never trade you the memories of breathlessly laughing while my sides ached, and the joy of knowing my daddy’s love!

2 comments:

  1. don't know why that says i posted at 5:33 am ... i posted at 8:33 about.

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  2. What a blast of memories I had reding this one! Our dad sure is the best! And I love him dearly! : )

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