Fog City

                                                        A Shock

This blog is a personal rant. I only bother to write it because I know It probably won't be read. You see yesterday my son sent a golf video of me six years ago titled Veterans Day. I made an assumption mistakenly. A bit of a back story is in order. First I have three sons which makes for the ideal dream golfing foursome. I'm a veteran (Army) and my oldest son is a veteran (Army). He by the way has two Purple Hearts, seeing action in both Iraq and Afghanistan. A few years ago good fortune conspired and we all came together on Veterans Day for a family round of golf. It was a success and we decided a tradition was born. Last year of course the Pandemic put the kibosh on our convergence. Now though public gatherings aren't as restrictive. So when I received my son's message with the video earmarked Vets Day, I thought he was reaching out and planning our traditional golf outing. I messaged back about what's what. Now comes the shock. He said his brother, my son, was coming from Portland specifically for golf, and he had notified my other son, which makes three. Here it comes. Then he says he penciled in his cousin, my nephew as the fourth, and I'd be sitting this one out. I was stunned, shunned, snubbed and dissed. 

What hurt and cut to the bone was my failure to realize they didn't share my sensibility about this family event. You see it should be a poignant and singular chance to acknowledge our four generations of Vets, and all Vets. Plus the lads have their own families and live in different locales, meaning once a year the four of us could be together, for a half day, without the responsibility and distractions of women and children. Alone, sharing laughter, reminiscing, reinforcing our bonds. When the boys were little I fantasized about a family foursome when they were all adults. Back then I got them clubs, showed them the fundamentals, watched them get better and grow to love the game. My dream foursome had come true.

I got old. I suppose now I don't measure up. It's a hard reality to accept. I'm no longer an integral ingredient in a foursome I thought would last. I don't begrudge the boys, I've never let expectations rule. 

Shattered Toe