Assimilation


One of my favorite memories of my dad is a silly one, as most of them are. We were at Sun Splash (the coolest and only water park in Southwest Florida) looking all around for him. Suddenly we see his silhouette from far across the park, standing at the top of the water slide station with his hands on his hips, ready to crow. His similarity to Robin Williams in "Hook" was uncanny.

 Growing up with a Peter Pan like dad only had its advantages. Dad introduced my younger siblings and I to the world of Marvel and D.C., showed us how to walk on our hands in the back yard, and gave us expert fencing lessons with empty gift wrapping paper tubes. Admittedly, my favorite D.C. character was Catwoman and whenever we went to our local comic book conventions I sought out the "girly" comics, but still, my initiation into the world of "boy" things was early on and is still firmly ingrained in me. 

 While other dads were interested in sports, cars or music, my dad was firmly planted in the world of fantasy. He still is. Anything featuring elves, fairies, swamp creatures, ghosts and the underlying theme of good vs. evil was fair play. Movies like "Willow", "Legend" and "Labyrinth" were in constant rotation in our house, setting up our family's obsession for epic fantasy adventures. 

 As much as I find myself trying to emulate my own mother with my boys, I also find myself channeling my dad in my parenting as well. I enjoy taking them to the comic book store almost as much as they enjoy going. Lately I realized that I am probably the biggest Star Wars fan in the house, and I have no idea how that even happened. My assimilation into the world of boy culture is complete. 

 It makes me so happy to see how my dad has morphed from the young, silly and energetic dad that I knew to a grandpa for my sons, nieces and nephew with just as much enthusiasm and spirit. My boys look forward to drawing with him, and no doubt have inherited their artistic aspirations from him as well. 

 Some people bemoan the idea of "Peter Pan Syndrome" but I can tell you firsthand that growing up is overrated, and my dad is living proof. Check out my dad Kevin's fantasy world at his blog http://neverwild.blogspot.com/ for a little peek inside of his magical mind! 

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