Sami = Superhero

[Note: In an homage to this blog's humble origins, not only am I (finally!) writing another post about Adam, I'm doing it with him next to me hitting me with his lightsaber, listening to David Byrne's "Glass, Concrete, and Stone," because that's what he wanted to listen to. I LOVE my life!]

I basically had two jobs to do today (which is how I can write about my day in the past tense, just after noon): First, since I live my the airport, my house is like an extra long-term parking lot, only this lot you don't have to pay for. As such, whenever anyone who knows me flies out of Louisville, they park at my place and I drop them off at the airport. This morning I got to do that favor for an old friend.

The second job was really a two-part job. Job 2a, pick up Adam from preschool. He started back on Monday, with his classes being on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, each running until noon. Not much of a break from my full-time summer parenting schedule - especially considering that I'm supposed to be writing my thesis. But, hey, I'll take it. Anyway, if Adam were gone much longer than that, I might start going into withdrawal.

Job 2b - this was the important one - bring Goldfish crackers!

I evidently failed as a parent when I picked him up on Monday without being armed with a snack for him to eat in the car on the way home.

Daddy, he scolded me, in that delightful little voice of his, always pretending to be bigger than it is, whenever you pick me up from school, you need to bring me a snack, or else I might get hungry on the way home.

Good to know.

So, I asked him what he wanted for snack.

Ummm..... How about some Goldfish crackers!

O.K., I'll bring some Goldfish crackers.

Just so I wouldn't forget, he reminded me all day yesterday that the next time I picked him up from school - that would be today - I should make sure to bring him some Goldfish crackers.

Then, just so I wouldn't forget, he reminded me all morning that today, when I picked him up from school, I should bring him some Goldfish crackers.

Then, just so I wouldn't forget, before I headed out to take my friend to the airport this morning, I put a bunch of Goldfish crackers in Adam's snack bowl, stuck a travel top on it, and put it on the kitchen counter.

Just before I arrived at Adam's preschool to pick him up, I had a sinking feeling. Like I had forgotten something. But what could it be? I've got the booster seat. I've got the carpool number I've got to hang from my rear view mirror so the school knows I'm authorized to pick him up. What could I be forgetting?

OH SHIT! I scream, at no one in particular. I'd forgotten the Goldfish crackers. (Didn't see that coming, did you?)

So I called up Sami, who not coincidentally works in the same building as Adam's preschool. Got her voicemail. I am the biggest idiot... I begin, before another call comes in on my phone and confuses me. (Can't wait 'til she gets that message! Yes, you are, but what did you do this time?)

I called her again. This time I get her, explain the situation. I'm now sitting in the parking lot in the line to pick Adam up. She races to his class, and slips a package of Goldfish crackers into his backpack. (Where did she get them, anyway?)

When Adam reaches the car, he asks, Daddy, where are my Goldfish crackers? It didn't even occur to him to ask if I'd brought them. Of course I brought them. How could I forget something that important?

I cooly reach into his backpack and pull out the crackers, like some kind of magic trick. How'd they get there?

And, once again, my ass has been saved by my lovely wife. How does she do it?

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to go do battle with a very short Jedi knight.