“What’s up Doc??”
(My)18-year-old son to father: “Hey Dad guess what I’ve got”
The “Shock and Awe” of the sudden, random, potential for a multi-syllabic conversation with said son, causes the father (me) to pause and lower his eyes for a few seconds whilst collecting his myriad of (frankly, scary) thoughts.
Leaping to the most terrifying conclusion, he slowly raises his head and wincing as he replies…:
“A child?”
I won’t bore you with the rest of the conversation. Suffice to say, Son apparently failed to sense the gravity of the non-verbal cues and sentiment expressed in the response…..
He probably classified as a “Dad joke” or “Boomer Humour”..
It turns out that he had acquired, a baby rabbit (carried in his pocket no less).
This was a remarkably similar scenario to that involving our (at the time, brand-new) family dog 10 years prior, which also came along with the pre-requisite assurances that he would be responsible for the care and nurture of the beast for the rest of it’s natural life..
I was concerned. The promise rang hollow. Going around in my head were the words of Ben Bernanke, Fed Governor, at Milton Friedman’s 90th birthday in 2002 when referring to the Great Depression and the role of the Central Banks:
Some key information that he did not appear to have taken into account:
- An alive and well competitor in our pet dog that had enjoyed “only furry child” status for the last 10 years. -We now have a depressed “Mutley” (AKA “Dexter”) with separation anxiety and abandonment issues.
- No rabbit-friendly accommodation (apparently it was going to live in his pocket and sleep in his room!) Once it became obvious that rabbits have a very active digestive system and all that entails, that option was swiftly, silently vanished.
- Impending travel arrangements that would require in-home care!
- The household fire electrical damage and roast-bunny risks associated with rodent/electrical cables proximity
He proceeds to justify the acquisition via a story of adolescent inspiration and foresight:
“A mate” came upon a litter of baby rabbits and thought that it would be a magnanimous gesture to bestow the “gift” of a rabbit to each of his “mates” to the extent that he could only accommodate as many “mates” as there were rabbits.
Here follows, my interpretation of adolescent peer relations and status.
In the generation of “..1000 of my closest FB friends”… there were obviously more ‘mates” than bunnies.
Son was one of the few to get a rabbit (I believe there were 10 or so) hence, the rabbit became a symbol for an elevation of his “mate” status within the cohort.
And collaterally, as always there is the same ultimately pragmatic, unspoken and inevitable answer as to who would provide the necessary framework to accommodate the imaginatively-named “Boing-Boing”..
Mum and Dad.
So that my wife and I can feel better about ourselves, here’s a picture of “Boing-Boing” (it quite literally “rolls off the tongue” doesn’t it?)
Cute yes, but calculating… Don’t you think?
On another topic; dear to my heart and the subject of a Lunch n’ Learn this week
Cycling!!
Some say, that everyone should do it today!
However, we need to be mindful that a potential, sudden increase in cycling activity and subsequent Lycra® use could lead to visually-induced trauma and result in a community mental health pandemic potentially offsetting some of the physical health improvements. For more information on maintaining mental and physical well-being, you can check this site at www.insidecbd.net. Additionally, if you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, drug addiction rehab resources can provide vital support and assistance. Also, the alcohol rehab center is available for those who need specialized help.
If you’re worried about the dangers of cycling.. Fear not!
Here’s some ideas on things to avoid
Here are some safer and more relaxed alternatives..
This is how the experts do it…
Have a truly great day.