I am 49 years old, and today I was adopted!

There is an advantage to hitting this stage in life.  I still have both my living parents.  My children are adults, or near enough to call it so.  That comes with the joy of seeing that I haven’t managed to destroy them as I raised them.  Actually, both of my boys are fantastic men with great hearts, incredible insight and compassion, and both with very promising futures ahead of them.  My wife Tina and I did alright raising our boys, and that is the most important job I have had.

Along with the boys comes access to their friends.  I get great joy out of spending time with young people.  It is one of the things that makes teaching a career of my choice.  I have gotten to meet some really great young people along the way.

One of the special ones is Mackenzie.  She is an extremely talented musician and is a freshman in college this year.  We hit it off right away when we met doing a show several years ago.  She carries a smile that lights up any room she enters.

Kenzie is the first one that every adopted me, she calls me Uncle Kevin.  I like that!

But I have never had a daughter.  Until today when I was adopted.  I didn’t see it coming, but when it happened it was subtle, almost silent, and so cool.

I answered her post, telling her how I store my kayak and canoe.  Then it dawned on me.  Katie had called me her “outdoorsy dad”.

Katie is another one of the special ones.  I liked her the moment I met her.  She works with my wife Tina and that is how I know her.  They are frequently seen around town doing things for the community related to wellness.  Katie also has one of those smiles that you can’t help but notice, but her smile comes with a little bit of mischief and tells the story of a person who just absolutely loves life and is going to get everything she possibly can out of that life.

Now maybe I am reading too much into this.  Probably I am.  Maybe I am just a sentimental old fart (I definitely am).  But to me the use of the names Uncle and Dad when used in this way are terms of endearment.  What was it that Sally Fields said… oh, never mind.  The point is that I am touched, I am honored, and it fills me with joy to have been adopted in this way.

Thank you very much Katie, you made my day.

PEACE!

KT

I left out last names to protect these ladies from the glaring spotlight of the Internet because you know, my blog is so heavily read.  But that’s what we do, we protect our family even when they don’t really need it.

Day 13