This is just a little a little thing that happened in real life that made me think of my “virtual” friend Stucky. It’s probably not of much interest to most of you but I thought it was cool.
Yesterday was my best friends birthday. I call him by many names but I most often call him Spanky. He is a genuine salt of the Earth, friendly guy and one of the only men I know with real integrity. He is the perfect counterbalance to my asshole-aholic personality. Almost ten years ago he legally adopted what would be his step-grandson who was three years old at the time. None of the blood relatives wanted to step up and save this little guy from an endless cycle of foster homes so Spanky did and asked my help in bringing the little guy up. The kids real parents were a couple of useless meth-heads.
Despite the fact that I don’t care that much for kids I agreed to help out as much as I can because this kid really deserves a better life than what he was born into. So last night was just a fun night out to see a local WHL hockey game. Spanky and I both believe that 80% of raising a kid to be a decent human being simply involves spending time with them and sharing common interests while helping them to productively interpret their experiences. He really is growing into great kid. Prior to the game he asked me to help him get “Papa’s” name and a birthday wish for him onto the scrolling reader board during the game. So I helped him find the right people to make his request a reality. A great kid indeed.
I’m not a huge hockey fan but I enjoy spending time with Spanky and his grandson. I learn a little more about hockey each time I attend a game and last night was no exception. It turns out that WHL players are aged 15-20 and many of them depend on local families to act as sponsors to feed and house these young guys as they develop their skills to become professional players. At last nights game they introduced and thanked all of these families and the young players they sponsor. I thought that all the players were from the US and Canada but it turns out they come from all over the northern hemisphere.
Last night they honored the overseas players by introducing them and playing their respective national anthems. Most of the time I simply stand with respect when I hear a foreign national anthem not thinking much about the people it represents. First up was Finland then Slovakia and finally the Austrian national anthem. And so last night I stood there listening and thinking about Stucky and his family and the stories he has shared with us here on TBP. So thank you Stuck! And I hope Momma Stucky is still doing well.
Wow. Nice story. My own birthday was a couple days ago (Thursday), so this is like a birthday present. Thank you!
Ms Freud thought it would be cute and funny to put the actual number of candles on the cake. By the time she lit the last candle, the first candle burned out. Then the cake collapsed from the weight.
Mama Stuck is doing fine. But, I’ve had a “falling out” with her, and haven’t spoken to her going on two weeks now, including my birthday. She fell down the stairs. My brother-in-law found a good used chair lift ($2k) and installed it. She REFUSES to use it. I told her I’m done with her until she does. We are now in a Mexican standoff.
I never really enjoyed hockey …. until I went to my first semi-pro game … the Fort Wayne Comets. It’s a totally different experience in person. The speed. The skill. The HITS!!! Just awesome, in real life.
Adopting a three year old to give him a better life, when he didn’t really have to do it ……..well, your friend is a super-duper fine human being. Spanky (how cute!) is fortunate to be in a terrific Gang … his dad and you and I’m sure many others. Great story, my friend.
Happy B-day, Stuck!
I_S, thanks for sharing that with us. I’m sure with you around as a mentor, Spanky’s grandson will grow up with all the right experiences and critical-thinking skills.
I’m more impressed every day with the majority of people who make up the TBP community.
Thanks to both of you.
Stucky, mom’s can be like that. I know mine is. I finally wrote her a letter one telling her to “get busy livin’ or get busy dyin’!” Told I’d support her either way but what she was doing what unacceptable. She chose life……for now.
I’m off to be educated (by a lawyer) about family trusts!
I_S
Happy Birthday Stuck. Wow – all those candles! You must really be an old fart – like me. BC-LR to all
Happy Birthday, Stuck.
I was thinking the other day as I was driving and smiling at something funny I read here, that I had better taper off or I would disappear into an online existence and leave the real world.
My mother told me once of her uncle who painted his wagon once. after he finished what had been a work of several days everyone complained. Why had he painted it several colors, why not this color…He got so mad that he broke the wagon. Juana (my mom) is the only one who didn’t say anything, he said. My mom said she rather liked it.
My mother’s family is like that, very touchy when it comes to accepting criticism. I learned long ago to try to find a way to agree with my mother an not disagree with her, which will get us nowhere since she is very sensitive to being told otherwise.
One nice thing she does is that as long as you are in your 50’s she will say you are 50. This being my next to last year in my 50’s – I will be ’50’ in a couple of days.
EL ILEGAL
One should never argue with moms the older they get. But it’s not always possible.
Happy (future) Birthday. A fellow Pisces. I knew you had redeeming qualities … although I know you don’t believe that stuff, Please don’t call me a devil worshiper bound for hell cuz I don’t actually believe it either …. except the part that says WE; —- ” have great compassion, charming personalities, good sense of humor, kindness, truly enjoy helping others” …….. yeah, all that is true.
you mistake me for bb. I said before, I don’t care if you go to the pit, I gots to werry ’bout me.
things have been quite relevant for a while here on the old tbp, my daughter got a job she really wanted, working in a hospice. I said to her I never realized until I saw sensetti’s pic of a bedsore, what she was responsible for. she said, we have to watch for and report immediately, any redness because by then it is a serious matter. So, yeah, TBP does indeed trickle over into real life.
I know I posted it before but, so what? To Moms everywhere:
I don’t understand this guy. How he could carry out this TRIVIAL thing for such a long time. There must be more to the story. In fact, I do NOT like this guy EVEN ONE BIT. Were we ever to meet, I would punch him in the face many times. The story might even be fake. But the message … it’s one to remember.
This story touched the depths of my soul. I’ve been wanting to post it for a while. Now seems as good as ever.
My mom used to embarrass me too. Especially when she came to school. She didn’t drive back then, so she walked. And she wore funny clothes; stockings, a kerchief, long dresses that looked 20 years old, because they were … she looked soooo German-ish. And she talked funny and the teacher more often than not had to ask her to repeat herself. Kids made fun of her, and me. And I hated it, and sometimes, her. I’m glad beyond all measure that later in life I had the opportunity to say more than once, “I’m sorry, mom.” Not everyone does.
Get out the tissues.
Happy Birthday Stuck…may the good Lord bless you with a blue vein boner to please Mrs. Stuck with tonight !
Buckhed
I see old folks walking round and I tell my wife, he’s going to bang her tonight. she says I am being mean. I say, no, mean would be if I said he could bang her.
Stuck, you video is not suitable for children under 70. Loved it.
Damn lawyers! They had a seminar on the ins and out of Family Trusts scheduled at a local hotel for 9:30am today. I had to sign up on their website to attend and I even called the idiots on Monday to find out how long it lasts. We show up and the hotel knows nothing about it. They let me use their computer to double check and sure enough, 3-1-14, 9:30am is on there for that exact address. Maybe I won’t be a prick on the phone when I call them Monday although I do have a great message in my head that I want to leave on their answering machine right now!
I_S
Happy belated Stuckee. Hope u had a great day.
Stucky said: ”
I never really enjoyed hockey …. until I went to my first semi-pro game … the Fort Wayne Comets. It’s a totally different experience in person. The speed. The skill. The HITS!!! Just awesome, in real life.”
On TV hockey sucks but as you say, it’s a totally different experience live. I look at it as attending a fight and sometimes a hockey game breaks out. Last night the home team got their ass kicked 0-2 by Portland who extended their record to 22 consecutive wins. During intermission our team mascot Boomer the Dog jumped up on the wall in front of the visiting team bench, right in from of us, and very subtly used one of their water bottles to “take a leak” on their bench.
I_S
T4C & Stuck, parents should be parents until their kids turn 18. After that, parents and children should be friends. Too many parents start out trying to be friends with their kids because their afraid to hurt their feelings. I’d rather hurt their feelings now and teach ’em how to cope with it and learn that it’s not the end of the world before they get out into the real world and get all butthurt by their boss or someone even less consequential.
It’s probably too bad that I never had kids. I feel like I could have raised a good one or two. However I’m too lazy, selfish, cynical and pissed off at the world. It’s better to recognize those things in yourself before you raise a brood of miscreants.
Damn my typing sucks as of late. Maybe Clammy cursed me or I’m having a stroke!
I_S
Stucky I hope the year ahead is great for you despite the insanity that engulfs us all. By the way, we need to talk pies sometime soon but not today.
I_S
Thanks for the positive tale of a rescued boy. I often think about how society -that is, individual people within it – will step up to the plate to help and take care of those in need around them. However, when a culture becomes immoral and depraved, the numbers needing help eventually outweigh the ones who could offer aid. That’s what we have become, and your young friend is blessed he didn’t end up in the clutches of some child protective (?!) agency.
@Stuck, belated birthday and sorry about the standoff with mom. My dad is coming home today and I’m heading out into the snowstorm to go and spend the night and tomorrow with him, hoping he will be able to handle being home alone again. Sis reports he is being a crank ass, so I hope we don’t end up in a standoff over some bullshit as I know the crotchety old bastard only got well and acted happy to fool the rehab into letting him go.
@IS, thanks for this story, your friend is an angel on earth.
Clam Attack – is that like a Shaq attack or a heart attack?