On Friday, Nolan came racing into the living room and said, “Wil! I want to go to the LA Car Show this weekend! Just you and me, okay?!”
Nolan loves cars. When we see a cool sportscar, it’s not enough for Nolan to tell me that it’s a Nissan 350 Z. He needs to tell me exactly what size engine it has, how fast it does 0-60, and how it would do against a Ferrari.
Nolan has a subscription to Car and Driver, and was excited to have Project Gotham Racing because “It’s the closest I’ll get to racing a Mini for a few years, Wil.”
I, on the other hand, have serious problems hanging an air freshener tree from my mirror (“You’ll find one in every car, you’ll see.”) or adding washer fluid. but when the Car Show came to town last year, I saw an opportunity to do something with him, in an environment where I knew he’d enjoy himself. I had to seriously talk him into going, but I eventually succeeded, and we had a great time. So I was very excited when he came to me Friday and asked me if I’d take him again.
Yesterday, he had plans with friends all day, so we planned to go today.
At 11:30 a.m., we got into my car, and drove to the convention center. About ten miles into the drive, he said to me, “Do you ever listen to anything other than Fred when you drive?”
“Sure, I do,” I said, “I listen to the jazz station, and Ethel, and Special X.”
“Why don’t you listen to the regular radio?”
“Because the regular radio sucks. It all sounds the same and the DJs are lame.”
“You won’t even listen to KIIS FM?”
KIIS is a local Top 40 station. I’m pretty sure it’s one of those Clear Channel stations.
“I don’t think so. I used to listen to KROQ, but nowadays –”
“KROQ just sucks, doesn’t it?” He said.
“Mostly, yeah. Kevin and Bean are awesome, but the music on that station is just –”
“They play too many oldies,” he said.
I nearly lost control of the car.
“Too many oldies?”
“Yeah! It’s all from the eighties,” he said, matter-of-factly.
Man, did I ever feel like I was 31 and squarely in a different generation. Squarely, man. Squarely.
“Well, I was thinking of all that Korn and System of a Down noise, but . . .” I couldn’t even complete the thought.
“Do you think KIIS will be around in ten years?” He asked.
“Probably. It’s been on the air since I can remember.”
“Oh, that’s good,” he said, “I don’t know what I’d listen to if KIIS went off the air.”
Oh dear god. I am so out of touch with the kids today.
I reflexively turned up Fred, which was playing Joy Division, and self-consciously sang along.
The rest of the drive, Nolan spoke without stopping for breath about how excited he was to see cars from 2 Fast 2 Furious, and some new concept cars, and some Mitsubishi. I kept looking at him in the rearview mirror, but I was distracted by my steadily receeding hairline and the lines that have recently deepened around my eyes.
We pulled off the freeway at 9th street, and turned down Hope on the way to the convention center.
I was passing the Staples Center when I realized that there were no other cars around, and all the parking lots were empty.
“Nolan, did you say that the Car Show was at the Convention Center?”
“Yeah, it’s the Los Angeles Auto Show at the LA Convention Center in Anaheim.”
I pulled over and turned off the car.
“Nolan,” I said, as my old heart sank, “Do you mean the Anaheim Convention Center?”
“Yeah! That’s it!” He said, cheerfully.
“Nolan, that’s in Orange County. This is the Los Angeles Convention Center.”
“How far is the other one?”
“It’s over an hour away. We can’t go there.”
His smile fell from his face.
“Why?”
“Because it’s noon, and we have to be at my parent’s house at four for dinner. We don’t have time.”
At a time like this, it would be totally normal for the kid to cry, but I felt like I was going to cry. I felt like I’d let him down by not double-checking the location, and now our big day together was a total loss.
“Well, can we do something else instead?” he offered.
“Are you okay with that?”
“Well, I was really looking forward to going to the car show, but we can still hang out together until dinner. That’ll be cool.”
I actually felt the heaviness lift from my heart. For the next few minutes, we talked about where we could go, and settled on Universal Citywalk. We figured there were lots of restaurants there, and maybe we could catch a movie.
A cold wind and the end of tourist season conspired to keep Citywalk mostly empty. Top-40 music blared from huge speakers echoed off the mostly-empty walkways. It sounded hollow and eerie, too warm for this chilly November afternoon.
We walked up to the theater, and scanned the showtimes.
“How about Texas Chainsaw Massacre?” Nolan said.
I opened my mouth to answer and he said, “Just kidding, Wil. How about School of Rock?”
“Haven’t you already seen that?”
“Yeah, but I really liked it. I think you’ll like it too.”
“Okay,” I said.
He turned to the girl in the ticket booth.
“One child, and one . . . ” he paused and looked at me, “. . . senior for ‘School of Rock at one.”
“Senior?!” I said, “I don’t think so!”
He giggled at me while I paid for one adult and one child.
The movie was mildly amusing to me, and though I enjoy Jack Black, I think he’s better in a supporting role. I got serious Jack Black fatigue after about 40 minutes. During the film, though, I finally grokked why parents can sit through terrible movies like Anastasia because their kids want to see it. Nolan was rocking back and forth in his chair, and kept looking at me to make sure I was enjoying it as much as he was.
When the film was over, we had about 45 minutes to spend at Citywalk before we had to go up to my mom and dad’s, so we checked out some of the junk shops they have up there.
Citywalk is this very strange, ultra-sanitized, fake version of a scaled-down Los Angeles. It’s so hideous, it’s sort of cool, and I must admit that I enjoy walking around up there.
“I remember coming up here when I was a teenager,” I told him, “when none of this was here. There were just two themed restaurants, and the movie theater. And the theater only had 12 or so screens. ”
“There was no Hard Rock Cafe?”
“Nope. But there was this place called Whomphoppers, which was a western-themed steak house, and this other place called Victoria Station, which was a train-themed steakhouse.”
“No offense, Wil, but that sounds pretty lame.”
“Yeah, it was . . . but it was the 80s so we didn’t notice. We were distracted by the awful hair and leather ties.”
“Yeah, what were you thinking?” he asked.
“Uhm. I don’t know, but I can promise you that all your friends who wear their ironic trucker hats cocked to the side on their heads will have this conversation with their own kids in fifteen years.”
We both laughed and walked into a blast of obnoxiously loud hip-hop music that poured out of a store.
“Man, I must be getting old,” I said, “because I just can’t stand this crap. I’m totally out of touch with you damn kids today.”
“What do you mean, getting?” Nolan laughed.
“Dude!”
“I’m just kidding . . . ” he said, and took my hand as we walked out, “. . . but you are.”
I love that kid.
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You are a lucky guy, Wil, abuse and all.
ps I hope you’re saving for his first car, ha ha.
Aren’t kids amazing at making us keep things in perspective? Just when I think I’m pretty cool especially for a mom, my son reminds that no matter what I am a mom and I am getting old so my cool is limited. And he is only 7.
You know I’m your age and I grew up on rap, hard core, punk, metal. I teach college freshmen, and there is a total generation gap. What bums me is their music is so tame and watered down. I still live for Japanese Noise core and stuff, I get really excited about the new Slayer album and they get all amped up about Korn (why is something found in your feces supposed to be tough and Kool? Is it the kay? You can hear the eerie whisper: “we’re Korn, with a K” cue theremin) who don’t even rock like old Van Halen rocked. No one they listen to even approaches Bad Brains (System of a Down gets there at times, and so From Autumn to Ashes-but they have to “express” themselves before they can crunch. Generally, my kids are shocked when I tell them their music is weak. I miss headbangers, real punks (when having blue hair meant an ass kicking from the jocks not an invitation to share grooming tips). Oi, I’m whining. Sorry, my old ass gets upset that these kids have all of the boundaries of “proper” music blown open for them already and they choose corn row mary poppins. ugh.
What a great story!
This is why I don’t hang around with 11-year-olds — they have no compunction about pointing out how hopelessly unhip I have become.
OK, the real reason is that I don’t have an incredible wife with an 11-year-old kid . . . but I’ll hang onto the dream.
Oh man…I remember Victoria Station, wow…yeah it was lame. I have seen some of the 80’s styles coming back around and I just think..it looked bad then and it looks bad now. Oh Well, Its the never ending circle of life! (no pun intended)
But on the lighter side, it sounds like the little guy likes you a lot and it seems like you have earned his friendship, not just expected it.
Keep it up and have fun, Life though kids eyes can be a real eye opener for us old folks 🙂
I love it, Wil!
I remember Victoria Station-it was a real “Grownup” restaurant.
Warning-you think you’re totally out of it by some of that music you heard today, wait until you are in your forties and express the same opinion! (Its not you-it is terrible!)
Thanks for sharing!
jtbwriter
Hey Wil,
This is probably the fifth time visiting your site and I feel like I know you. Gotta love these journals. Nolan seems like a cool kid. I don’t have any of my own but if I did, I hope my kid will be as cool as he is.
I gotta tell you Wil, I just now got back from a Simon and Garfunkle concert and I loved every single minute of it. I’m 33 years old, so it’s not really “MY” era, but my Dad listened to their albums almost every Sunday morning when he made breakfast. I called my Dad when they played “I am a Rock” and just to say I was thinking of him. Someday, when Nolan hears “Love Cats” or “Love Plus One” or whatever, he’ll think of you, smile, and more likely than not, sing along.
LK
I love reading these stories about Nolan and Ryan. It makes me wish I had a loving relationship with my parents when I was younger.
*g* That’s just a cool kid. *g*
That is a great story, Wil… why do you ever have writer’s block, you’re full of great stuff. Anytime you can’t think of anything to write, do something with your kid, it obviously works to accentuate your already-present abilities.
Generation gap is a scary thing.. expecially in this age where things can accelerate so quickly, I’m only 22 and I can’t watch MTV or half the stuff people my age are supposed to find hip. I feel older than I am, it sucks. But makes for a few laughs now and then.
And if the guy at the ticket counter thought you were a senior, who are you to break his heart and pay extra?
Oye! I am the same age as you and I still am shocked when I hear that 80’s music is now the “oldies” station. Oldies? Oldies? OMG! Someone pass me the Oil of Olay please.
Trust your kid to keep things in perspective for you, *laughing at self*. Mine can always make me feel gray haired and arthritic with his “Your so old” comments. 🙂
funny…i remember going to whomphopper’s once, when i was like 7, and only because i begged. of course, that’s also back when universal studios still had the cylon/battlestar galactica ride.
old….so very old.
Sounds like another good day to remember.
But you aren’t allowed to get old, Wil.
If you get old that means I won’t be far behind you and damnit I’m not ready to be old. 0.0
*OtterHuggles*
I love these entries, Wil. I feel like Nolan on the car ride to the convention center whenever I know I can expect an entry like this.
🙂
Receding hairline? Deepening lines around your eyes? I nearly snorted my coffee over that one! Dude, you are only 31, take a deep breath! Save the grey hair worries for when Nolan really IS racing Minis!
Your family is fantastic, Wil, thanks for the great story.
Francine
Yes, KIIS is part of the Imperial Clear Channel Empire; in fact, KIIS is the cookie-cutter for Clear Channel’s Top 40 stations. And it SUCKS! Hearing the same damn presentation in every single city, sometimes even the same Prophet-jockeys (not disc jockeys, because they’ve never soiled their hands with a CD, cart or those records you hear so much about but never see).
If someone wiped those [censored] from the face of the earth, I don’t think I’d mind.
I know exactly what you mean. It really is these moments in your life where you can quite rationally stand back and say “Yeh, this is what it’s all about, this makes it all worth while”
Don’t doubt your writing Wil, it’s familiar, warm and totally full of ‘Willisms’ which is the whole reason we come back.
You keep this up, Wil, and you’re going to have to do several sequels after you finish JAG. This is most certainly “one for the books.” And if Nolan wants to see a sweet ride, tell him to check out the 1987 Buick Grand National.
And you’re not the only one getting the old comments. In two days, I turn 26. My girlfriend Liza, five years my junior, keeps calling me her senior citizen and old man. And I’m just as guilty, I do it to my mom and dad, both 30 years my senior. But there’s nothing but love behind it in both cases. It’s all good ^,^
At least when your in the “Old Folk’s Home” this kid wont be able to say the car don’t run as an excuse not to come see you!
heh heh he*cough* *weeze* ha ha
Now take your pill and drink your milk Mr.Wheaton
Kids make for interesting mirrors, to be sure.
Say, Wil — you may want to put up a “Now Playing” videogame recommendation, seeing as how OPM gave you a little plug in their magazine this month!
Repo Man! I love that movie.
Thanks for the great story, Wil. I think you do your best writing when you relate these family moments.
hey wil, once again, a great story. thank you so much for sharing those special moments in your life. I love reading about them, and i feel really privaleged because you let us into your life and let us experience all those fab times with you! thank you again!
Avid reader…
Rach
xxx
Aw, that just gave me a warm fuzzy. *g* That’s possibly the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard…er…read.
What a great story…thanks for sharing
If it makes you feel better, two weeks ago on my 25th birthday, I had one of my third graders look at me and go “25? My MOM is 25”. Granted, this meant she was a teenage mother, but still….
Next time he calls you old, hit him with you cane…
Seriously, My first kid is only 8 months old right now, and I am 30. somehow, even with the fact that his vocabulary is limited to “ba!ba!ba!” he has found ways to make me feel old. I think a lot of Gen Xer’s are facing this right now. We are no longer young geeks.
Having recently had a “God, you’re old” moment with my own 12-year-old son, I know just exactly how you feel.
Hey, Uncle Willy, you’re only, what, 31? Try having that moment when you’re 48.
[large sigh, mourning for lost youth]
Wil, these are the kind of entries that make your journal wonderful. Thanks 🙂
Wil,
Fantastic story. At 31, i’ve only just begun to raise my now 6.5 month old daughter, though my wife and I have already spoken about whether or not she will someday sit down with her kids, much like I intentionally do now, to listen to good music from ANY era. I was lucky enough to be raised by two parents who made their generation of music (60s and 70s) a staple in my upbringing. I have already made a promise to myself to make sure my kid(s) grow up with a similar benefit.
I too have lost faith in local radio, to the point where i haven’t even programmed in any stations in my car, but instead stick to my own CDs. Clear Channel Sucks, Public Radio has lost hope, and at least in Charleston, SC. a good college station is non-existant. One of my lifelong dreams has been to DJ a radio show, however the myriad of twists and turns life has taken has led me away from it. I’ll just stick to making my own mixes and enjoying music where and when I can. I can assure you though, there is no Staind, System of a Down, or Korn in any of that.
Keep up the great writes!
I just flew down to Albuquerque to visit my childhood friend who had her first baby. We are both 24 right now. What a life-changing event! It really opened my eyes to the fact that we are getting older.
I’ve really enjoyed each phase of my life, and it looks like you have a good sense of humor about gettling (a little bit) older 😉
Take care!
*laughs* Ah, KIIS FM… I used to listen to that when I was little and still living in California. I can’t believe they’re still on air. Wow.
Totally off topic, but CNN has a great interview with Mark Hamill in the entertainment section that you might find interesting.
A triple AAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWW for ya, Wil! 😀
Of all the stories you share, I love those best that tell about the kids and Anne… family rocks.
I can’t wait to have talks like that with my kiddies next time I see them… and they will be old enough (13-ish) to be self-conscious so we can do that.
God I miss them…
And you’re a great dad. 😀
Wil,
You just keep me laughing! I am 9 days away from my 30th birthday, and I am so out of the loop with music and movies and anything that amuses teens these days (although I have read all the Harry Potter books, so there you go). I am also exhibiting “signs that I am getting old,” the most noticeable one being that in December, my best friend Jennifer’s daughter is turning the same age that we were when Jennifer and I met.
Dude, and just about your age… I hate to tell you this, but if you walked into my cafe and ordered a beer, I would ID you.
So don’t be ridiculous. 😉
Toss Nolan a copy of Clarke’s “Childhood’s End”.
Damn it, Wil,
You make me cry EVERYTIME you write about you and the boys . . . but I LOVE IT!
You are the One!
Jay
First of all, I liked Anastasia. The music was good. Second, my 7 year old sister does stuff like that to me. The problem is that I listen to real oldies…40’s 50’s and 60’s. It’s great that Nolan likes hanging out with you so much. I hope when my kids are old enough, they’ll like to hang out with me and Chris.
Sometimes the nights are just so bad.
Last night I woke up at about 3 for no apparent reason. I tried to go back to sleep but I kept having this really disturbing dream.
We were playing in a stream and my son who is 3 1/2 was playing with some sticks. As dreams often allow, there were all of a sudden other kids playing there as well. Don’t know how they got there or where they came from, they were just there. Dream kids.
My son is very focused and driven. when he wants to do something, he just goes and does it, Outcome be damned. If only we could all be that way as we get older. No fear.
In the dream he was playing with these sticks and one of the other Dream kids took one of his sticks which at this point had morphed into a rather large stick with some girth and dragged it to the edge of a watershed. The stream has now morphed into a culvert and the water is no longer just a trickle but is moving with some speed and purpose.
My Son is determined to not let the stick go over the watershed which is about 5 feet so he grabs ahold of the stick as it approaches the edge of the watershed. It slips out of his hand and he decides to go after it.
I am no longer in the stream with him but now I am standing off to the side on the edge of the culvert. The water down below is now a raging torrent and he slips into the culvert to be swept away at great speed. The look of panic on his face is palpable and I feel helpless as I cannot reach him while the water shows how single minded it is in its purpose. I look ahead and see the culvert is leading to a waterfall that falls into a pit.
Looking ahead to the waterfall I see a small child playing on what appears to be a small catch basin where you can stand just before the edge where the water goes over the edge but as I approach I see that the water is flowing under this basin and I cannot catch my son and I wtach in horror and helplessness as he goes over the edge.
I am feeling helpless and I cannot get the picture out of my head. It just keeps playing over and over again. Why do dreams do that. When you want to remember one you can’t but if you want to move on to something else you can’t do that either. I cannot get back to sleep.
Eventually I give up and realise that I must go to him. I leave my wife in her peaceful slumber and pat the dog as I walk down the hall in the dark to my Son’s room. I climb into bed with him and hold him tight and the love just washes over me and the night becomes dark again as I fall asleep with him in my arms.
I love that kid more that life itself.
I just had to get that out. It has been bothering me all day.
I was flipping through some record albums and I kid you not some 10 year old asked if they were CDs. I had to explain the whole Lp thing and record players and such.
I have a friend who owns a record store (as in vinyl). The shirts he and his staff wear say on the back: “I’m not old, your music really does suck!”
I think that sums it up perfectly.
I am afraid that using the word “dude” as an exclamation pretty much puts you into the old and uncool category with me, Wil. Perhaps we are given a set number of cool vouchers at birth. If that is the case, I used all mine up in junior high school.
On the upside, I happen to have seen a They Might Be Giants cd mixed in to my neices Britney Spears collection. Which just goes to show you that silliness will always be cool.
Next time you feel you’re the one with the problem, take a look at the fashions his generation wears and the music they listen to and you’ll realize who ISN’T hip and who is.
There’s a reason I lost most of my interest in music in the early 90s. Most of it since then sucks. Sure, there’s some decent stuff here and there, but music just isn’t as creative overall as it was in the 60s, 70s and yes… god forbid… the 80s.
Great story, Wil.
I am reminded of how old I am getting when my local radio does their “flashback” weekends… I hear all these ’80’s songs that I was actually singing when I was in a cover band in LA back then. I want to write to the station and tell them to stop. I feel OLD.
Thanks so much for sharing your day with Nolan with us, Wil. As always, your way of writing made me feel like I was right there. I even chuckled out loud at some points (I’m allowed to, I’m even older than you at 42!) 🙂
Awwwwwwwwwwww *tear*
i *heart* sappy endings..
So 80’s music = “oldies” is it?
Damn that’s depressing, but even moreso considering the pap 80’s music was. Sure I can get all righteous and indignant over Creed, Nickleback and Britney Spears but c’mon, Men At Work, Toni Basil and Sheriff?
*sigh, I am old.
Now I’m not much for online quizzes, but if you grew up in the 80’s you have to take this comprehesive music quiz.
http://www.yetanotherdot.com/asp/80s.html
It’s depressing how many are all there on the fringes of memory as you find yourself humming to yourself trying to remember that missing word.
Okay, now *I* feel old. I’m only nineteen and I listen to eighties music.
Granted, I also listen to Korn and System of a Down. AND the Beatles. But now I feel old all over again.
It’s great that you have such a great relationship with your stepson. I wish I had that good of a relationship with my REAL dad. *shakes head*
~Tasha