Felix (my cat) and Riley (my dog) are laying face to face in a shaft of sunlight on my living room floor as I write this. It’s not a very wide beam of light, and I Felix wants to be in the sun more than he wants to be left alone by the puppy. It’s incredibly cute, and I thought I’d share.
On the way to school today, Nolan and I were caught in some annoying traffic on a major street. While we sat and waited for a light to change, he looked out his window, and pointed at an alley that lead away from the traffic jam.
“Why don’t we go down that alley?” He said.
I pointed at a moving truck that was blocking it about halfway down. “Because we won’t make it past that truck,” I said.
“Well, let’s just drive right into it, and hope we respawn on the other side!” He said.
“I don’t think that would work,” I said.
He frowned for a second and looked back at me.
“You’re right,” he sighed, as we started to creep forward. “With our luck, the respawn point is probably behind us.”
I laughed. “We’re kind of geeks,” I said.
“Yeah,” he said, “but that’s okay.”
Parents always hope to see a little bit of themselves in their kids, and as a stepparent, I’ve always wondered if Ryan and Nolan will pick up anything from me. It’s been a challenge, because I don’t want to force myself on them in any way, and their dad has worked pretty consistently to marginalize my influence, and minimize my position in their lives . . . but over the last year or so, Ryan and Nolan have come to me. They’ve made efforts — entirely on their own — to close the gap between us. After almost ten years, I feel like they’re truly accepted me into their lives. They’ve picked up my interests, my humor, my sense of duty to Truth and my fundamental belief that we should always be giving without expecting anything in return.
It’s wonderful when I see Nolan stop to help a kid at school, or see Ryan take the time to do something kind for his brother or mother, just because he loves them. They may not carry my DNA, but they carry my spirit, and that’s far more important.
It was a silly little thing, Nolan geeking out with me about respawning this morning, but there was something unspoken between us, something that I can’t quantify or describe in words. It was something I just felt in my soul, and it was one of those important waypoints on our journey together that I don’t want to ever forget.
I’ve got an audition this morning, and a meeting at lunch, plus I’ve got workers coming to tear out some bushes (heh. I’m working on that this Tuesday, too) and trim up one of my trees, so I don’t know if I’m going to get Dallas up by the end of today. That story has taken on a life of its own, and I don’t want to rush it out. I think I’m going to put some of the Linucon report into that post, too, even though it’s almost as big as Texas already.
Chris The Film Geek has a great recap of the signing at Borders last Sunday, though, that I encourage you all to go read. I’ll fill in my thoughts whenever I finish the Texas oddessey.
This is probably it for this week, so have a great weekend and a safe All Hallow’s Eve, everyone.
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The boys sound like dreams to have as kids. They are equally lucky to have a Dad like you too!
🙂
BTW………..if you do another book signing on the Westside of L.A., I looking for Christmas gifts to give!
The boys sound like dreams to have as kids. They are equally lucky to have a Dad like you too!
🙂
BTW………..if you do another book signing on the Westside of L.A., I looking for Christmas gifts to give!
The boys sound like dreams to have as kids. They are equally lucky to have a Dad like you too!
🙂
BTW………..if you do another book signing on the Westside of L.A., I looking for Christmas gifts to give!
The boys sound like dreams to have as kids. They are equally lucky to have a Dad like you too!
🙂
BTW………..if you do another book signing on the Westside of L.A., I looking for Christmas gifts to give!
i know this is not the time nor the place, but i’m 21 and i just thought i’d let you know i tried guiness tonight. mm hmm yes i did. fabulous.
anyways i think your writing is great and you are definately a wonderful role model for the boys. happy halloween 🙂
i cant wait to have my own kids. this lil girl at work called me mama yesterday…. my heart melted 🙂
Hay Wil,
I am a very lucky son of a step-father myself. It is amazing how much more I am like my step-father than my real father. As an Adult, I have also become a step-father. There is no bigger heart than the heart that raises children that are not of their own blood without giving the matter a second thought. Children are a joy and you don’t need me to remind you.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN! To Wil, Anne, Ryan, Nolan, and all the fans of WWdN! *hands out virtual candy*
we should always be giving without expecting anything in return
That is pretty much identical to the best definition of friendship I have been able to come up with.
If you do things for other with an expectation on return, it is called business.
we should always be giving without expecting anything in return
That is pretty much identical to the best definition of friendship I have been able to come up with.
If you do things for other with an expectation on return, it is called business.
Hi, Wil! Enjoyable holiday to you, Anne and the boys!
Happy Halloweenie to one and all!
Scott
Hi, Wil! Enjoyable holiday to you, Anne and the boys!
Happy Halloweenie to one and all!
Scott
Wil,
Always good to see things are still going well for you and the family. Time really does fly but you seem to have made the father moments count in a positive way.
FG
I can semi-relate to this blog entry…I accepted a little boy into my life midway through my relationship with my ex-boyfriend… we were going to get married, and he didn’t know he’d had a child previously- until one day one of his ex’s showed up on his doorstep and said she didn’t want Ethan anymore… I took the child into my life, and into my heart- and at the falling out between me and my ex-monster (he cheated on me with 6-8 different people without my knowledge), it hurt me more that I lost that exceptional little boy than his father.
It still hurts me today- it feels as though I’ve lost one of my own. Be thankful for all the joy yours have given you. I am glad that you will hopefully never go through that horrible situation that I went through.
You are truly blessed.
*Melinda*
Hi, Wil! Enjoyable holiday to you, Anne and the boys!
Happy Halloweenie to one and all!
Scott
Hi, Wil! Enjoyable holiday to you, Anne and the boys!
Happy Halloweenie to one and all!
Scott
Hi, Wil! Enjoyable holiday to you, Anne and the boys!
Happy Halloweenie to one and all!
Scott
Long time reader, first time poster! Something about you mentioning the topic of tearing out the bushes on Tuesday really got to me; it brought a tear to my eye. Please, let’s make this coming Tuesday the national Tear Out the Bushes Day! Cheers to you, Wil!
On a seperate note, it is unfortunate that I have yet to experience the trials of parenthood, but I empathize in a different sense, I suppose. Sometimes, when I see my spouse “carry my spirit” or I to him, I laugh at the joy of just being able to be one with him in that particular way. I know that this might be nothing compared to what you have just experienced, but I just thought I would share.
Wil,
I am the mother of two children who are steps to my husband.
How rewarding it is to see them turning into little versions of their new daddy.
It is funny how they pick up on so many of his traits and have made them their own.
I feel very lucky to have these two totally different aspects in my life and watch them blend into one happy family.
Wil, I loved the story. And I want to apologize for the multiple pings/trackbacks. I was editing my article and each time I would save, it would ping your site even after I removed the URL from the trackback section.
Know you’re busy, but just delete the extra trackbacks. Sorry again.