Veterans Day: Family Time

Yesterday my wife, son, and I spent the day together. It was veterans day. Since the three of us were off from school and work why not spend some quality time together as a family. Kennedy, my daughter, still had to go to school.

Our day started off with breakfast at Denney's. The plan for the day was to have breakfast and go to a movie. However. we purposefully planned not to tell Myles, our son. Why you ask? Myles, like most 6 year olds have plenty of interrogative questions when it comes to his relationship with the world. He is in a space where everything has to make sense to him. If not, prepare yourself for a thousand an one questions until he understands. By the time he understands you feel inside, "Who was in charge? Me or him?".

After we had breakfast we stopped by HomeGoods store. I think Daphne and I did not realize what we were headed for as we entered the store. It was Myles' first time at the store. Naturally, its nothing out of the ordinary. But for a parent of Myles D. Browne, it was a unique experience. As we walked through the store Myles saw a thousand items that would be interesting to him to decorate our home for Christmas. Fourty-five minutes later we finally made it out of the the store without buying any of his suggestions. To Daphne and I, that was an accomplishment. When we are on a recession budget staying focused is the key. As we drove off. Daphne and I looked at each other as we started to hear those words that make us cringe. "Mom? Dad? What are we going to do now?". We did everything we could to distract him and not spoil the surprise, plus we wanted avoid the thousand and one questions. Ah, that was a stupid idea. The questions still kept coming. As we turned into the movie parking lot. "Oh, I know where we are going now. The movies...."Myles says.

We watched This is it, the Michael Jackson movie. It was long but a good expereince. I guess I was a little sentimental about going. I loved listening to his music and many of us can agree that his songs we grew up with generated different moments and feelings in our lives. Well, this moment I think was an unsaid moment that both Daphne and I wanted to experience with Myles. Hopefully, years from now Myles could say, remember, and feel the moment of when he went to see "This is it" with his mom and dad.

Over all the movie generated feelings of family togetherness, inspiration, and some sadness. I felt sad because he was taken from us too soon. I felt inspired because of what our nation and world is dealing with these days, "Make a change" kind of hit home with me. Especially, with Veterans day and what happen at Fort Hood. Lastly, I felt good inside that we spent some quality time with each other. Since I have been working, more time with the family is shorten to quick moments. Weekends filled with sports, activities, and errands. On this day, it was someting I needed as a father and husband. It refueled my motivation to keep pushing to ensure my family can have moments like this again and again.

I guess my message of refection is, take a time out to seek out what is imporatant to your family. Quality time, no matter how short or long is imporatant to let eachother know in said and unsaid ways of how you feel about eachother. I posted a picture of my grandfather on the family website who was in the Navy, Donald Bryant. Known to some of us a "PoPo". Addtionally, I gave reference to my other grandfather Herman Browne, Army. These two men played an imporatant role in my life that made me who I am today. I am just a little better because of them. However, I give honor to all who served within our family for the known and unknown sacrifices.