Boys Night

Ryler dressed like Michael Westin from the show Burn Notice.


The show Burn Notice has been on for at least 5 years.  Prior to my dad's heartattack in July of 2009, Garrin & Ryler would have "boys night" with my dad.  Burn Notice came on Thursdays but we dvr'd it and they'd watch it on Fridays.  I wasn't allowed to be home on boys night and if I happen to be home then I had to stay in my room and out of their way.  At the time I didn't realize what an awesome memory they were making!  So needless to say we have all the Burn Notice seasons on dvd and dvr the new seasons until they come out on dvd.  It's crazy how little things are really what the kiddos remember, not the big things in life.  My boys loved "boys night" and very much looked forward to it.

"Boys night" consisted of my dad picking the boys up from school or the sitter on Friday afternoons..  Then they'd go to the grocery store for their goods.  My dad always took them everywhere he went.  He told me on more than one occasion that yes taking them in the store or wherever he was going took twice as long with them but was so worth it because they'd outgrow him in no time.  I didn't really understand what he meant that they'd outgrow him, they loved him and always wanted to go with Papa.  However, now that the big boys are nearing the teen years, I'm beginning to see that they grow up and move on.  It's awesome in one regard, because that's what you spend all this time teaching them to spread their wings and prepare for flight.  However, on the other hand it's heart breaking to let them go.  I just keep listening to my dad and how he told me that I'd do my children an injustice if I didn't prepare them for flight.  So as hard as it is I'll prepare them for flight and let them go knowing that's what my dad has taught me to do.  Now back to "boys night" they'd get root beer and snacks.  On their drive home sometimes Papa would let them drive, or they'd roll down the windows and hang their heads out as Papa would drive slow with the music blaring, or my favorite is when he'd do what my boys called cartwheels (j turns and doughnuts on our gravel road).  That's just the beginning of the fun filled "boys night"!  After they got to our house, Papa would start cooking.  Let me just say that my dad's cooking was the absolute most amazing!  I never saw him use a recipe, just a dash of this or a lot of that.  He always had some kind of meat to grill and then he'd make the boys favorite, garlic mashed potatoes.  Dad never used any pre made anything, he always wanted things fresh.  The boys would start in with their root beer and my dad would have a big boy root beer and they'd act like a few old men having a good drink, eating some great food, and really enjoying each other's company without a care in the world or any other place they'd rather be.  After dinner and a lot of playing and wrestling around, they'd get out the air mattress.  Let me just say that after "boys night" I had quite a mess to clean up.  What I wouldn't give to have that mess to clean up now! Anyway, after they got settled down from all the wrestling around they'd watch Burn Notice.  My living room was full of fun, love, and awesome memories.  I usually got home from work about this time and the boys always wanted me to go to my room.  I'd talk to dad for a little bit and then I'd go on and let them have their time.  My dad would stay the night sleeping on the air mattress with the boys crowding him.  They'd be up late just talking and watching tv.  This memory just makes me smile from ear to ear and thankful for such an awesome Papa, and makes my heart break into a million pieces at the same time because my younger boys won't get to experience this and the older boys don't have their "go to" person.  You know that person that's always there for you no matter what, that's what we call your "go to" person.  But I've got to focus on all the positive memories and work on making new memories, and that's the hardest thing I've ever had to do.  So after a night of wrestling, eating, and fun they'd finally give it up and go to sleep.  The next morning my dad would get up and cook them (ok us) breakfast.  The boys didn't seem to mind if I was around on Saturday morning.  During breakfast, they'd talk in their own guy talk with some inside jokes.  This happened every week, if Burn Notice was on or not, until Papa went to the hospital with his heart attack.  After he had heart surgery, he never spent the night again with the boys.  They had boys night, that my dad would push through (no matter how much pain he was in), but he'd go home after Burn Notice or whatever movie they were watching.  I remember seeing the sadness in the boys at that time but I was blind to the fact that it'd never be the same again.

Things were never the same.  I know change is a good thing but wow sometimes it's brutal!  My sweet Ryler knew from the beginning that it'd never be the same again.  He cried so much after my dad's heart attack but I was in denial and kept thinking that my dad would get better and overcome this.  I just couldn't let myself think that this was how it was going to go!  To this day my boys love to watch Burn Notice!  Ryler likes to dress up like the main character, Michael Westin.  They still talk about "boys night" and all the fun they used to have with Papa.  I just keep telling my older boys that they'll have to teach the younger boys all about Papa.  My dad will live on!  It's funny the things that will bring back so many memories.  I'll count my blessings that my dad was so giving of himself and his time to me and my family.  Now it's my job to do the same!

Trinity