Confession No. 1,999,991

Okay, its been awhile since Kingston's last football game and I had to get this off my chest. I've been a longtime proponent of parents cheering internally and not out loud, a matter that has kept Jen and I at odds for many years now. Jen likes screaming like a banshee when her kids are playing. I like hiding under the bleachers until the gale-force winds have subsided. I get pretty hot under the collar when an opposing player uses dirty tactics in a game but that's about the extent of my ire when it comes to the boys' sports. Okay that's not the only time but my point is, I prefer to internalize my fury until I can get home and start throwing walnuts at the chickens.

But then came King's last game. His performance was pretty flat but then again, the entire Lehi team was looking pretty lethargic. So, long story short, Kingston made a tackle early in the third quarter and didn't get up. For some reason, I waited until all of the other concerned parents around me were absolutely quiet before I yelled out, "Get up!"

OOPS!

A classic case of not enough input, very poor output. I'm pretty sure that my thought at that particular moment was, "Is it just me, or am I really an idiot?" Anyway, I took a few gulps of cold night air to clear my head before I finally walked down to the sideline where he was being attended to by the people who aren't idiots to ask how he was doing. Aside from a severely bruised elbow, he appeared to be okay but I lost a lot of points that night in the "Father Know's Best" category.

It's funny how something so insignificant can make such an incredible difference in a boy's life. I'm fortunate that my son's have been blessed with a special ability to overlook my failings as a human being but its these little life lessons that give me greater perspective in my calling as a father. I swung for the fences that night and struck out with the bases loaded but I can tell you this, next time life throws me a curve I'll be sure to check it before I swing. My 'team' is counting on me.

Halloween 2008

There's a rumor going around Lehi that the Matua boys have a "very serious" dad. In other words....he doesn't like kids. So, like thousands of Californian's who went door-to-door to post fliers to petition the aid of its citizens (and illegals) to vote for Prop 8, I went door-to-door in my own neighborhood to inform everyone that I'm not "serious", I just don't like neighbor kids....I'm kidding....I think.

Actually, since I'm too serious, I decided to leave town over Halloween so that Jen and the boys might enjoy the festive environment of Halloween fun and trick-or-treating with me asking, "Are we there yet? Are we there yet?"

So while they ran around the rain sodden streets of Lehi, compelled by the need to gather as much candy as possible and fueled by a sugar-induced high, I was on the streets of Waikiki watching adults act like children.

The boys are still talking about the 'Silly Adventures of Bat Girl (Manaye) and her trusty side-kick Belle (Lana)' who were very entertaining throughout the night and quite boisterous in their chorus of Trick-or-Treat at each door. Or, how Belle would yell out, "Bat Girl! Bat Girl!" when no one was home. And who can forget the Oompa-Loompa's who thrilled a throng of ghosts, goblins and Jabbawoockie's dancing to Thriller in the middle of the street?

I have to say, I may be too serious for my own good, but I sure would have loved to have been there to join in the fun.