My daughter falls in love and how I’ll be getting a gun
At the Y that I most recently left I was the Associate Executive Director – a fancy title that means I was in charge of operations. This included maintaining a 50 year old building.
To keep the plumbing unclogged and the electricity flowing, I worked closely with our maintenance man – who had been there over 20 years and was easily in his 70′s.
He and I are very different people – he rode Harleys in his younger days (I drove a Chevy Cavalier – with dual airbags). He has a few not-so-PC ideas that he’s not afraid to share (I attended Columbia University – the bastion of Political Correctedness). And he has a love for guns – which he painstakingly engraves by hand with beautiful designs (I last handled a gun when I was seven years old – and it was a Daisy BB gun.).
Needless to say, he didn’t warm up to me at first but by the end we built a relationship of mutual respect that was hard earned on my part.
So a couple of weeks ago, he called me at my new Y. I was surprised to hear from him but eventually, after some light-hearted small talk, he told me the reason for his call. He wanted me to apply for a gun permit. After a long pause, as I thought this request over, I asked why. “Well,” he said, “I’m not getting any younger and I have this gun at my house that I’ve engraved and… every time I think about who I want to give it to, you keep coming to mind.”
This is the ultimate compliment from this man. I felt so touched that he would think of me this way and I knew, even though I am not a big fan of guns, that I would get that permit. After all, I could store the gun safely and not buy any ammunition and it would be fine. But I’ve put off getting the permit – being a little busy but also still being a little skittish on potential gun ownership.
And then, something else happened. Swee’pea has a friend at daycare whose name is Brandon. Both TheMonk and Swee’Pea talk about him all the time and it is clear they have a very close relationship with this little boy. Until today, however, I didn’t realize just how close a relationship they had.
As I changed Swee’Pea’s diaper today she began noting that she was girl (and Mommy is a girl and Grandmother is a girl and Nutmeg the cat is a girl…) and that I was a boy. When I asked her who else was a boy she began naming off those closest to her. “TheMonk is a boy. And Brandon is a boy too.” Then she said the three words that I was not prepared to hear so early in her young life…
“I love Brandon.”
I’m getting my gun permit next week.
(And no promises about passing on the ammo.)
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Been there… it doesn’t get better. Sorry.
Comment by Kemp — March 27, 2008 @ 11:49 am
OMGosh I’m dying over here laughing at your story. I will fully admit that the first thing DrillSgt. said when Da’Gorgeouses were born was “Oh well, I guess I’ll be buying TWO shotguns!” It doesn’t help that now both of his darlings can bat their eyes—”ojitos”—like only true divas can (they so did not get that from their mother)! LOL!!!!
Comment by MamáChanga — March 27, 2008 @ 2:48 pm
How sweet of your friend to think of you! Definately get the permit. You can keep the gun safe out of harms way.
I don’t know if you listen to country music but this song (I love this song) is perfect for you at this time,lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjO9kX4npVY
Comment by Tanya — March 27, 2008 @ 4:52 pm
The Webmaster gives you his heartiest endorsement, and wishes to know what kind of gun it is, and how this man does his engraving.
We own several guns now (the Webmaster has a Curios and Relics federal license that allows him to buy old pieces directly), including a .22 rifle that he recently inherited from his late grandmother (it was her wedding gift from her husband, his grandfather). He showed it to Ane and promised to teach her how to shoot someday (when her arms are long enough).
Comment by Deanna — March 27, 2008 @ 9:48 pm
Too funny.
That is pretty cool of that old guy. You could always have the gun disabled and find a way to display it.
Comment by Whit — March 27, 2008 @ 9:59 pm
I was going to give you the link to that song too but Tanya beat me to it–you MUST watch that video. MUST.
That story is awesome. Good luck out there.
Comment by samantha jo campen — March 28, 2008 @ 7:34 am
Excellent! I love this post! That guy sounds awesome and it’s so “Dad” of you to get that permit. My Father was always very overprotective, and I complained a lot growing up. Now that I’m older and have a little one coming, I understand…and I’m very grateful!
Comment by Equipoise — March 28, 2008 @ 8:22 am
What is it about little girls that turn their Daddy’s into completely different people? So funny.
Comment by Kami Huyse — March 28, 2008 @ 9:27 am
Nice. I hear you bro. I’m thankful for my one son.
Actually, now that I think about it, perhaps you should forgo the firearm. I am the father of a boy after all.
Comment by Keith — March 30, 2008 @ 4:26 pm
Ugh! thanks, I have the almost two year old with blond hair green eyes and dimples. Yeah, good thing dad’s a hunter. I don’t care how big a stick she gets…she’ll want back up to fight them off:-)
Comment by Aunt Bean — March 31, 2008 @ 7:48 am
LOL… I am a new reader… and you just cracked me up!! I am a mom of a 5 year old little boy and a 2 year old little girl… my husband also has gun permit thoughts!! Good luck!!
Comment by Sabrina — April 3, 2008 @ 7:25 am
This is funny! Mostly boys for me, so no worries there, but I did do a post today about my latest gun purchase. Most men find it pretty funny – take a look if you want…
Comment by Melody — May 9, 2008 @ 11:33 am