The good news, I guess, is that my last post got folks talking. The bad news was that I had no idea so many people out there think I'm a jerk. Oh well. But my biggest critic of my Mother's Day lament was A, the hardest-working, most-wonderful single parent in the world. When I asked her what she wanted to do for Mother's Day she said, "Ha! I thought you didn't believe in it." To get myself out of hot water and to show her how much I appreciate her, our blending tribe all drove out to the Bronx Zoo. We weren't the only ones with that idea. It seemed as if the entire tri-state area had a sudden craving to watch animals.
Although I'd grown up in the City I had never been to the zoo before last year. It was very crowded that day too so when the kids had whined that they just had to ride the camels I looked at the endlessly snaking line and convinced them to forget about it. Kids apparently have memories like elephants when it comes to riding camels and this time they insisted. Just as they sat atop the charming, yet stinky beast I realized that I was about the only parent in the entire zoo who had forgotten to bring a camera. To the zoo. Again. It was then that I distinctly remembered that I'd forgotten the last time too and vowed to remember the next time.
Out of desperation I whipped out my cellphone and took a shot.
I didn't say it was my best shot. It looks like they're riding a dumpster. But at least they're smiling.
I pride myself on my photographic prowess and I swear if I'd remembered my real camera I'd have taken a decent picture. I'm so embarrassed. Undoubtedly the "Father of the Year" committee will take off twenty points for this gaffe.
The rest of the afternoon was wonderful, all five of us laughing and gawking and laughing some more, until I noticed some Nikon-wielding dad taking a great shot of his kids feeding a llama or waving at a mountain gorilla. I tried to be zen about it but it was hard not to complain. Finally wise little Chet chimed in, "You're a writer daddy. Why don't you just remember it?"
Hearing this, my heart, like the Grinch's, suddenly expanded a few sizes.
So although I might sometimes whine about being a single parent, doing twice the work on half the two-parent income, most of the time, most all of the time, I remember that I'm the luckiest guy in the world.
