Wat da Wat?

Finally! All the blood, sweat, tears and worries that my wife and I have invested in our oldest child, BJ, have begun to payoff.

During our trip to the Philippines, my life-long dream of flying first class was realized. Since BJ works for one of the major airline carriers, my wife and I were able to ride first class during the 16 hour flight to the Philippines.

As I sat on my first class seat, which by the way converts into a flat bed, sipping champagne, eating caviar, and listening to music with my noise cancelling state of the art head phones, I began to think about BJ, who gave up his first class seat so that I can be in first class instead of business class.

Everytime I was addressed by my last name whenever a flight attendant attended to my needs, I thought about the time when BJ almost did not graduate in high school because he mistakenly brought his martial arts weapon to school. With every sip of champagne, I thought about the time when BJ and his friends decided to perform stunts on my car and dented its hood. As I taste the caviar, I was reminded of the time when BJ and his friend Manny, who by the way helps me with everything technical about my blog site, crashed one of our cars. And, when I was served my full-size steak dinner with real silverware and actual size plate, I reminisced about BJ’s boneheaded decisions that made me lose a week’s worth of sleep. But, as I reclined my seat 180 degrees and adjust my personal TV monitor, I realized that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that God is good.

Our BJ has done well! He has grown up, worked hard and fulfilled one of his father’s dreams.

For the first time, our travel to the Philippines was stress free because BJ took charge. As I watch him speak with the ticket and gate agents, it dawned on me that he is no longer the same shy, immature, and needy boy that we have known.

BJ has become a man! Now I know that he will be alright. He will succeed and survive.

So, that’s one down and four more to go.

I wonder who will buy me my Chicago Cubs Box Seats Season Tickets, and retire me at 45? If BJ’s path serves as a measuring stick for the next one in line, which is Joanna, then my chances of rooting for the Cubs up close and personal is pretty good.