That joke, like many, is funny because it rings true to a certain extent. This Spring has been one of those memorable ones which reinforce the humor in that joke. It has been a sad and soggy affair here in the Pacific Northwest of late and this Father's Day was no exception.
In fact, the moisture threatened to put a damper on our 'holiday' plans of taking Lukas to a kiddie themed amusement park. However, glancing to the west at ominous dark clouds, we soldiered on as we loaded up the car amidst a developing fine mist, and prepared for the 45 minute drive out to the park.
Not surprisingly, along the way the mist turned into rain, the rain into outright showers. And as the weather continued to deteriorate, our mood conversely became more and more anxious. Mrs. LIAYF planned this as a Father's Day event and really wanted it to be fun. "Should we abort and go somewhere dry?" Mrs. LIAYF asked about 10 minutes in. This was not an easy call as we were also meeting another couple along with a friend of our sons at the park. They would most likely already have been there.
We drove on.
There were times, as we got closer that it appeared the rain was letting up. Then we would round another bend and the intensity would once again pick up, perhaps two-fold. The mood was obviously deteriorating even further as we pondered a soggy afternoon of pretending we were having fun. I think I once or twice threw out a gem like "Man....It really IS raining.".
And after Mrs. LIAYF, for the second or third time asked "Should we just find them and go somewhere else?" I realized we needed a change in attitude and, censoring myself for the 3 year old in back, delivered a scaled down version of Clark Griswold's inspirational speech about making it to Wally World in the first Vacation movie.
It turned out to be exactly what we needed as we both laughed and continued to make jokes about how much fun we'd have at the 'Water Park'. Then once we arrived we met a dad with an iphone who checked a weather radar map and let us know the rain would stop in less than an hour. 45 minutes later it did just that.
I need an iphone.
Anyway, we went on to have an awesome time in the nearly empty park. I had a blast going on rides with Lukas, spending time with my lovely wife, and visiting with our new friends. It was a nice lesson in letting go and making the best of what you have planned.
It turned out to be the perfect Father's Day.
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12 comments:
Every Dad needs to pull out that kind of emotionally motivating speech every once in a while. Glad the day wasn't a total wash.
Truly spectacular. I'm sure I will be pulling that speech sometime in the near future. Road trip in the Fall!
Did you know that only three places on eath share that climate. seattle, te UK, and New Zealand. It's true - I read it on the internet
Despite what you may have heard, iPhones do not, in fact, control the weather. Yet.
This gives validity, at long last, to the oft-ridiculed and undervalued Griswold School of Parenting. For that, I thank you, Sir.
My wife was at a Dave Matthews concert last week... and outside concert... and it started POURING rain. She called me to check the radar map. I told her she'd be fine in 15 minutes.
An hour later, the rain finally stopped enough for the concert to continue. Whoops.
Glad you had a great Father's Day. I had one of the single greatest days of my life. It's so rewarding.
That National Lampoon's scene is the best. Calgary weather is hideous too. Eight months of snow, one of rain, and then summer, somewhere in between.
Glad it all turned out for the better.
How 'bout some pictures of you guys at the amusement park?
My friend and I set a local roller coaster record once on a drizzly day. nobody was in the park and we stayed on the dang roller coaster from opening to close without getting off.
I imagine you have your share of rained out events up there in Seattle. or, I suppose you all are probably so used to it that you soldier on anyway :-)
1. I remember that weather. I spent three years in Seattle and I think I remember three sunny days.
2. Love the original Vacation and that speech in particular.
Best motivational speech by a father ever. And, yes, you need an iphone :)
Well, you know what they say you should do if you don't like the weather here in the PNW? Wait five minutes!
It's funny because it's true.
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