What are the little wins that make you smile? Today I was “coolest dad ever” LONG.

Kids had their Christmas parties today and I told them I had to work but I’d do what I could to come see them. I could see that look on their faces. That defeated look of “okay, I Understand.” When they are looking forward to something and then have their hopes dashed. Especially my son.

So the day starts, taking care of some stuff, get to thinking, look at the clock and call the supervisor. Tell him I’ve got something important to take care of and if I’m back today, I’m back, but don’t count on it.

Hurry home to change, hurry out to school, put my Christmas hat on , got there in the nick of time, I rounded the corner my son was waiting and when I tell you he beamed and said “Dad! I knew you’d come!”…baws, you can’t buy that feeling.

Then it was back and forth between their classes, playing games and cracking jokes. My daughter had that look of minor embarrassment, but had to hide a smile when her friends kept laughing at my Dad jokes and saying “your dad is so cool.” She secretly thought it too.

Then in my boys class it was a back and forth joke competition with 5th graders (thanks for the dad Joke thread the other day baws, it helped), had em cracking up. Then my little buddy got me to tell a story, he pulled stools up for people to sit around and helped me tell it (it was a Christmassy version of “where’s my toe.” They got a kick out of it) and then it was time for a Mad Libs style of storytelling I do where I start coming up with one off the cuff and have the group give me elements of the story.

So to a room full of 5th graders I told the Story of Rudolph, the reindeer, and a Nose named Shoelace, who walked around and said “I don’t know”, and when he sneezed he went “uh huh”, and how they had to travel to the magical land of Ohio on their magical Spatula to retrieve the Christmas coconuts, but on the way back to the North Pole they had to fight Satan, and shoelace used his Booger Tornado to defeat him and get back to help Santa deliver his Farts.

AIChatbot may be quicker, but I’ll take it on any day in a room of tweens. Storytelling is about reading the audience and having heart. And today, that class told me I was the coolest dad ever, the “highlight of the day.” You can bet I had a smile on my face and a spring in my step.

Then got to take my mom (no pics you degens) to dinner for her birthday, see my nieces, and get her some flowers and still had some coin in my pocket. I tell you what baws…it really doesn’t take much to make a rich Man. It’s the little wins.

I’ve got clean water, I can buy good food, I’ve got the love of family and friends, a little fire to keep warm…a Christmas tree, a cup of cheer, .
and people to share the joy with.


I had a lady who works at a local store I frequent stop me so she could see today’s patch .


For those who are having a hard time this Christmas, whether it’s stress, loneliness, missing a loved one, what have you.

I want you to know I’ve been in your shoes, where there seems no spirit of joy left. When it all seems dark and hopeless…hang on. I promise you it’s not. There’s light up ahead even if you can’t see it yet, just don’t give up and stay the path. Darkness never lasts. If you’re feeling the dark and twisties creeping in, reach out. There’s more than you think out there willing to help you get out that funk and start laughing and smiling again. You just have to ask.

There’s someone hoping you show up somewhere too. Don’t let them down.

TL;DR
Merry Christmas baws and bawettes. May your season be one of fullness. Full cups, Full coffers, Full Hopes, Full Hearts.