Fathers Day is Sunday. I have to control the excitement that goes with celebrating Fathers Day. I almost bought myself a large cookie at the Mall that had a “Superman” decoration on it. Yep, that is me.
Several months ago your Mom and I visited Grasshopper No.5 in Minneapolis. While browsing several stores at the Uptown Mall, I came across a display of can openers. We have had the same can opener for 25 years and I have intented to replace it so it on my “list” of things to do. No.5 admonished me for being a cheap-skate so I relented and bought a new can opener for $13. Damn they are expensive. No.5 also asked me what else I had on my list. I mentioned a toaster. We looked at new toasters but she could not coax me to spring for “big money”!
Last weekend when your Mom and Grasshopper No.5 took off on a mini-vacation, I got an early Fathers Day present. You guessed it. No.5 gave me a new toaster. It is shiny and glows with soft blue lights when it is operating.
What is the point of the “toaster” story? My life has changed.
My old toaster needed to be pushed down three or four times before it would engage. It had a clicking sound that let me know it was ‘on’. When a cycle was completed, toast would pop up with a loud springing noise. It always took two cycles of toasting to get nicely browned toast. The toaster was also my “timer”. I made coffee, took medication, got out plates and butter all to the sound of the toast springing up. At the second “pop-up” I was ready to butter the toast and my coffee was done.
The new toaster is quiet. It displays gentle blue lights to tell you where the toast is in the cycle. It engages to begin toasting without a noise. It pops up without a noise. The toast is evenly browned. My problem is I don’t have the “noise” to remind me of where I am in the process of making breakfast. I have to keep looking to see if the toast has popped up. My morning ritual has been interrupted. What do I do?
Here is a “toast” to Superfather (me) who adjusted to change. I continue to use the new and improved toaster and I have learned to handle break-fast without the noisy old toaster. Who says I am a creature of habit? Thank you No.5.
I also toast all you special Dads on Fathers Day. Make your wishes come true. You too deserve perfect toast.
Monday is your Mom’s birthday. Happy Birthday to the love of my life!
Love,
Dad