Posts Tagged ‘nephew

08
Nov
22

Great Moments

By Bucktown 7 Comments
Categories: Uncategorized
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I’ve missed you. I have written a couple dozen blogs, but never get around to posting them. I just spent a week in Hawaii with a couple of my nephews. I’ve done a lot of cool things in my life, and I’ve done some very stupid things. It is what it is. I don’t dwell on the past or the “what if” questions that weak minded people like to waste time thinking about. It isn’t hard to change. When you start down that path of thinking, identify it, accept your reality, and then smile while moving on from the dark negative thoughts. No amount of “regret thoughts” will change your future or your present. It is a waste of energy and never ends up being a positive outcome.

I volunteer at the rehab center here in Charlotte. I go in when requested to talk with people that have recently had a traumatic injury. I change lives when I do this. It is also extremely difficult on me as I relive the accident that left me paralyzed. Recently I met with a gang member that was shot and paralyzed from the chest down like I am. He was miserable. Nothing I said made any difference to him as he was determined to stay angry and depressed. I left that encounter feeling confused. Instead of sharing my positivity with him, I picked up his negativity. I second guessed my decisions, my optimistic attitude, and started hating this wheelchair and all it represented.

I promise nothing good comes from that way of thinking. It took a few days to purge that encounter from my thoughts, but it bothered me that I let some stranger influence my mood and my life philosophy. I have a feeling I’m not the only one that falls victim to such a thing. WHY?? Why would I let that happen?? I honestly don’t know, but I will be more guarded the next time I’m in that type of situation. I’m not going to quit trying to help, but I will be more aware of taking someone else’s feelings with me. We all should. Don’t let people with no investment interrupt or influence our lives or our attitude about our lives.

This blog has taken a turn I didn’t expect, but I just start typing and let my thoughts write the message. The wisdom I’ve gained by seeing the world while sitting down can not be measured. I enjoy spending time with kids and share some of these thoughts with them. While in Hawaii I told my nephews that we accept the bad times in life in order to enjoy the great moments. A corner suite at the Marriott with ocean views on Waikiki Beach is one of those amazing moments in life. We can’t change the past so learn the lessons from it and then pay attention to your present.

I tell them to put their darn phones down and just enjoy the moment when awesome things happen. I mean take a quick video to show your friends and then put it down. Take the time to experience that moment. What does it smell like?? What sounds are around you?? Take notice of that euphoric feeling inside of you. You can lose a phone, someone can steal your property, but memories are free, you don’t need a bag to carry them, and I have a bank full of them. I will keep accepting my situation and make plans for great moments in my future.

Love who you are today. Tomorrow is not guaranteed.

FknBucky

READ * THINK * LIVE FREE

25
Jul
17

From Target with Love

By Bucktown Leave a Comment
Categories: learning and Uncategorized
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kristen-wiig-target-lady

 

Let me be the first to say that my sister has done an amazing job with her two boys.  I absolutely loved having them come visit. That goes for all of my nieces and nephews.  Very proud of all 137 of them.  Or something like that. You would think my brothers and sisters would find a new hobby…

 

I told you the other day I would relay a couple of fun stories that happened while the nephews were here in the QC.  This would be one of those, at least I find it funny so I hope it gives you a smile today as well.

 

The boys and I had to swing by our local Target store to pick up some ping pong balls. I mean what is a trip to visit Uncle Bucky without learning the art of beer pong??  Don’t worry I made sure no one was looking when they did the drinking. I’m not an idiot.  We walk into Target and I needed to use the gender-neutral restroom. No one will ever know what I’m packing….  The boys stay outside with Murphy (my service dog) and hang out.

 

I come out of the restroom and an eloquently dressed lady looks at me and says, “Those are two fine young men you have there.”

 

I said, “Thank you”

 

Now we walk into the store area and need to cross in front of all the registers.  You know where the most people are gathered and I would certainly estimate at least 30 of them including our new nicely dressed friend.  I’m in front of the boys and rolling along nicely with Murphy still thinking “hmm they really are good kids” when I hear it. The younger one lets out a grunt that only men can distinguish immediately.  I stop and turn around already knowing what I’m going to see.

 

There is bean boy on his knees holding his God given bean bag with a red face going “Ugggg.”  Next to him is his brother with that look on his face.  You know the one you make at 2:30 AM when you pop out of your blackout and everyone is staring at you.  Okay maybe you don’t know, but it is a “what I’d do face times 1,000”!  He doesn’t get the blackout excuse yet though because we hadn’t even started beer pong!

 

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My immediate reaction was WHY??  Thru gritted teeth I’m expressing my extreme appreciation of the situation with selected words and of course the eyes that say all.  Everyone is staring and my two fine boys are now a couple of ball punchers.  Only took a matter of seconds to change that around.  While on the floor as I’m letting blackout boy know he is going to die later, bean boy looks up and says “It’s okay Uncle Bucky.  He owed me!”

 

Time and place boys.  Time and place.

 

I’m sure those of you that have young boys have similar stories.  Just had to share this one.  Remember sometimes the punch in the nads you receive is simply payback.

 

Enjoy your day.

FknBucky

24
Jul
17

Part 2 (Eat Your Beans)

By Bucktown Leave a Comment
Categories: learning and Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

blond with bulldog

 

Yesterday I described a teachable moment I had with my nephew about why sometimes adults make kids do things that they don’t want to, starting with something simple like eating a spoonful of beans.  The world is a funny place sometimes, and in my experience, everything just works out if you’re patient and let it.

 

The next day after our “bean talk” the nephews and I were getting ready to take Murphy to the park.  By ready I mean I was in my car, AC running, and about to pull out of the parking lot.  This is the male version of ready, not the female version where almost ready means still have to shower and do hair/make-up, BUT she does have the outfit picked out.

 

Now the nephew for the week prior to this moment had bonded with an upstairs neighbor who happened to have a bulldog.  He loves bulldogs and was very sweet on the cute blond owner as well.  He is a good nephew.  The cute blond comes up to my window and asks if I’ve seen the maintenance men.  Something is obviously bothering her.  I tell her no, roll my window up, and drive away as fast as possible.

 

That wasn’t true.  I told her no, and then asked what the problem was.  There was a spider in her bathroom.  She needed to get ready for work, but as we know most women don’t like to share a bathroom with creepy crawly things.  For the record NEITHER do I.  The nephew hates them as well, but he really liked the blond and the bulldog.  Real pickle for the young man now.  Hence another teachable moment.

 

I tell bean boy to get my chair and let the blond know I’ll come up to see if I can help.  Between you and I, I wanted to grab my 12 gauge and just pump five shots thru the bathroom door before I enter, but that isn’t very manly.  Darn testosterone.    The nephew comes with knowing as I do battle with the spider he gets to flirt with the blond.  I’ve taught that kid too much I’m starting to realize as I put this story down on paper.

scary spider

I enter the apartment, look to my right, and see the bathroom.  Blondie points and says “it’s in there on the counter by my jewelry stand.”  I go in and close the door so that no one can see the EWWWW face I make once I find this spider.  And then it happens.  I see the Count Dracula of spiders!!  It had fangs, mean eyes, and 47 legs.  It used to have 48 but lost one battling a tank in WW2.  I’m thinking what the beep did I get myself into.  My first thought was, offer the boy to this creature as a sacrifice, and get out of there.  Then I thought about those darn beans.  Me and my big mouth.

 

I made eye contact and it snarled at me.  Not willing to back down I said “Hello kind sir, sorry to bother you.” I was using an ancient orient distraction technique while grabbing some toilet paper known as “grabbing some toilet paper to kill spider.” It worked.  He never saw it coming, well until he did, and then I had to chase that sucker all around the counter top praying it didn’t fall in my lap.  That would have resulted in me squealing like a 7 year old girl, urination of my pants, and NEVER making eye contact with the blond neighbor again.

Luckily that didn’t happen and I killed the spider.  For you ladies yes, I could feel him squish as I, just kidding.  Of course, I teased the blond and told her that I got spider parts all over her jewelry because that is what guys do.  It is our reward for coming to the rescue.  Plus, I just really like to mess with people.  She was very grateful and repeatedly said thanks while bean boy and I made our exit.

 

On the way back down I asked him “do you think I wanted to come up here and kill that spider?”

He said “No, but sometimes men have to do things they don’t want to.”

 

Funny how the world will present opportunities for us if we just take the time to recognize them.

 

Enjoy your day.

 

FknBucky

23
Jul
17

Eat Your Beans

By Bucktown 2 Comments
Categories: learning and Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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I recently had the pleasure of hosting my two nephews (10 & 13) for a little over a week here in the QC.  We had an amazing time with lots of laughs and in the future, I’ll share some of them with you.  We did all kinds of things including kayaking, paddle boarding, whitewater rafting, zip lining, drinking beer (that one was me), and just living.  We also went to visit some very good friends of mine that cooked up a barbeque with ribs, homemade mac and cheese, and of course some beans.

 

My youngest nephew was having the time of his life until he saw those beans.  It was like someone told him that Hillary actually won.  Ha ha. This isn’t political, I’m just having fun with you.  He dreaded those beans with true fear on his face.  I pride myself on being the cool uncle and play that role incredibly well if I may say so.  With that being said, it would have been very easy for me to say don’t worry about, you don’t have to eat those.  Why fight it?? SO much simpler and I get to be COOL.

 

I like being a prick though so I made him eat some beans.  It was comical.  They were pork and beans and he ate HALF a bean at a time.  Gagged and chugged water afterwards.  I was dying inside.  I’ve never seen anything so funny. I almost gave him another scoop just to keep the party going.  4 hours later (slight exaggeration) he finally finished his beans and we said thank you and goodbye.

 

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While we drove back to Charlotte a real conversation about life sparked up and I make a point to always be honest with the boys.  I told my nephew that I didn’t care if he ate the beans for dinner as it had nothing to do with that.  He asked “Why make me do it then?”

 

I told him “Because you’re a man in training, and as men we have to do things we don’t want to do all the time.”

 

Some of you get it and others think that he is only 10.  Let him be a kid.  Here is my answer to that.  He is a kid while swimming, playing, hanging with his buddies, and all the rest of the day.  If the adults in his life don’t teach him that sometimes you HAVE to do things you really don’t want to, how is he going to be a functioning adult.  God willing he will grow up to be an adult, but that doesn’t make him ready for the world.

 

If you don’t learn to overcome LITTLE things in life, how are you going to react when the world throws real problems at you?? I’ve had my fair share of challenges in life same as you.  Everyone has setbacks, beat downs, and sometimes life just kicks you for no reason, but it is how you react to those moments that make you the person you are.  Now at 38 years old I smile and ask for a bigger spoon!

 

I’m glad people cared enough about me when I was young to make me “eat my beans.”  I don’t pretend I know anything about being a parent.  I just know what it takes to overcome and that advice is good for anyone.  You don’t pick up a football for the first time at 26 and then go win the Superbowl right??  Those guys start at age 6 now and train for decades to make it.  Shouldn’t we expect EVERYONE to be training every day to be ready for what life might throw at you.

 

Life is going to come at you that is inevitable.  Rich, poor, black, white, boy, or girl we all know that it will hit the fan eventually. You can sit and wait for someone to “say it’s okay someone else will solve your problem.”

 

Or you can smile, grab a spoon, and EAT YOUR BEANS.

 

FknBucky

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