“Dadoo, you be the dog and I’ll be the cat” and with that proposal and a taunting look, Xaine was off and I found myself participating in what I refer to as “Extreme Tag”. This activity, which I suggest be common place in all military training, entails not only safeties for the party being sought after applying to anything: Green, Brown, Red, Black, Yellow, etc. (that pretty much covered everything Xaine was near at the time I got close enough for a tag) but also incorporates repetition in the need for: leaping over steps, traversing net walls, crawling through tunnels, dodging poles and jumping down or sliding from high locations (I have Polyethylene burns in places we just won’t mention…) Time and time again, the sweat dripping from my brow, rubber legs fumbling underneath and an ever-growing shortness of breath… I outreach to only hear “Safe!” Then upon his determining when the chase would resume, we would be 
Barking and Hissing once more. A Passersby commented that perhaps I was a bit old to be on the playground? (especially when Xaine is in a tunnel nowhere to be seen and I on the other hand appeared to be playing by myself) That 3rd party view aside… to the two Evans’ in the confines of the park we only saw a 5 year old kid and a 31 year old eternal kid at heart… Laughing, Loving, and at times feeling very light headed.
Confetti Popper fireworks blasting and Blow-Out noise makers a screaming we join the party monsters of the night in bidding farewell to 2008. Being the East Coast boys we are we usher in the new year 2 to 3 hours prior to many a person’s we know, thereby giving us added time to reflect on o’ lang syne and be ever so appreciative of auld acquaintances ‘never’ forgot, and ‘always’ brought to mind. As the Waterford Crystal Ball continues to invoke midnight through Central, Mountain and Pacific Time zones we pass along a New Years blown Smooch… May you be blessed with Happiness and Health in the year ahead. And as always, No matter the distance between, we carry you in our Heart and Soul… So, when once again we meet…
…surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp !And surely I’ll be mine !And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,For auld lang syne.
(Amazing how great a Scottish singing voice one has after a ‘FEW’ amaretto sours)
Twas Chrismas Day here on the East Coast, still in the high 70°’s but I’m not one to boast. The presents where wrapped the best with a bow, in hopes that St. Nick brought anything but snow. Some Coffee in my Baileys I think I’ll be trying, now rip and tare set that paper a flying. Hygiene essentials, slinky, putty and socks “Dadoo please, where’s my Mario Kart Box?” The sounding of laughter, faces of happiness and cheer, half my Baileys away shall I now have Amaretto or B
eer? Forget the straightening bring on more fun… Oh a fishing pole and race boats lets go hit the sun. A few carrots, and tatoes, rolls, tasty roast beast, bring on the Cookies I’m ready to feast. Countless flashes of the camera the hours fleet by, our thoughts to the heavens as the sun leaves the sky. Hugs, kisses and good wishes from the East to the West, our Family and Friends… all those we LOVE best. So in true storybook fashion and doing this right……
Jacksonville, FL - SNOWING, 78°. No typo there… “SNOW”. Trust me... I was as shocked as you readers may be. Tis the season for my company’s holiday sponsored event “Snow in the Citi”. Admittance purchased well in advance we are off to Dadoo’s work for yuletide festivities and a promising of 15 tons of the white stuff. Having been provided our holly red wrist bands (Warning: DO NOT permit sticky tape on band to contact any forearm hair) by the friendly entrance e
lves it was off to decorate some cookies. (We could have made a wondrous wreath; however, my boy had sugar plum fairies dancing in him head). We wasted no time in the mixing of colors, scattering of a few sprinkles and one mustn’t forget the candy enhancements. Producing a truly scrumptious sweet tooth surprise and having put those plum fairies into a sugar coma it was off to the ‘Wait from this point = 30 min or more’ imaginary sign leading way to the balloon sculpture. Observing the Magician performing on stage helped us pass the time in line and now for Xaine’s creation. Would it be a Santa hat/beard, Penguin, Candy Can…. After clarification by the sculpture that he heard the desired creation correctly the art of inflation and twisting began… presto… a plain and simple Diamond? Sculpture in hand and only a few paces away you wouldn’t expect to see a sad face on my boy... “What’s wrong Baboo”… “Dadoo, this is not a diamond… he made me a SQUARE”. Oh, the horror of it all… Luckily Dadoo knew just 
what to do and upon rotating his sculpture 45° imagine the pure glow upon his face to see his ever longed after Diamond. Prolonged sadness averted, twas time to venture to the great outdoors. Weaving through the masses the luscious green grass beneath us gave way to a blanket of crackling white. Now this is the kind of snow I can enjoy; off the roads, in minuet amounts and still warm out (yep, still in the 70’s) Let the snow fights begin…..
We are MEN… and today we shall satisfy our primal urge to hunt for a Christmas Tree. Using our innate senses (MapQuest) we track a flock or trees to a lot at The Home Depot (the manly man’s shopping center). Right off the bat my boy’s keen eyes spy an amazing 8 foot Fraser Fir. With but one swift and strong strike from my debit card the tree falls. Taking both of our brute strength we drag this prize into our den (can you smell the testosterone and pine?). The fir impaled upon a stand for all to see we sit back and enjoy the spoils of our victory… Ok, OK… we know you can’t have a bare Christmas Tree… so let the decorating begin. (Why is it that no matter how much care on
e gives to the lights from the year before, they always seem to just tangle up in storage?) Being the ever so patient person I am of course I gave the task of detangling all the lights into a single string to Xaine. Sitting back and enjoying the sight of my boy solving the clustered cord conundrum I figure I should do some work too, so after a few turns around the tree (acquiring several scratches and a sappy epidermis) (why do we decorate these again?) our tree was bound in over 1000 multi color lights. Tis time now to hang the traditional multi colored satin bulbs which have dawned more Evans trees then I can remember. The majority of my OCD’s (Obsessive Compulsive Disorders) diminished I 
let Xaine hang them by his choosing… One here, One there, a FEW on this branch, maybe one more, and let the creativity that is he ignite. “Look Dadoo… I have THREE BALLS” (this tree sure has some strong branches I tell you). To truly make this OUR tree we incorporate unique sentimental additions of: age marking memories, a stolen apple heirloom, and a new note worthy Snowman. Last but not least the addition of the tree Topping Bow… “Xaine the honor is this year is yours, take a bow, flip the switch, release the spark and set the tree to light….”
Happy Holidays …
“Dadoo, you be the dog and I’ll be the cat” and with that proposal and a taunting look, Xaine was off and I found myself participating in what I refer to as “Extreme Tag”. This activity, which I suggest be common place in all military training, entails not only safeties for the party being sought after applying to anything: Green, Brown, Red, Black, Yellow, etc. (that pretty much covered everything Xaine was near at the time I got close enough for a tag) but also incorporates repetition in the need for: leaping over steps, traversing net walls, crawling through tunnels, dodging poles and jumping down or sliding from high locations (I have Polyethylene burns in places we just won’t mention…) Time and time again, the sweat dripping from my brow, rubber legs fumbling underneath and an ever-growing shortness of breath… I outreach to only hear “Safe!” Then upon his determining when the chase would resume, we would be 
Barking and Hissing once more. A Passersby commented that perhaps I was a bit old to be on the playground? (especially when Xaine is in a tunnel nowhere to be seen and I on the other hand appeared to be playing by myself) That 3rd party view aside… to the two Evans’ in the confines of the park we only saw a 5 year old kid and a 31 year old eternal kid at heart… Laughing, Loving, and at times feeling very light headed.
