Buster was nosing through my things and found one of the many watches I no longer wear because the battery died and I didn’t get around to replacing it. I’ve collected several watches over the years. They sit in a box with their dead batteries. It’s my way of holding back time.
Buster showed me the watch. “Look. I found and old, old, old, old, old, old watch. It used to be yours when you were a kid.”
That means I’m one or two olds older than the watch. It’s true, I’m old. I’m 50, which isn’t old in general terms, but it is old for the parent of a kindergartner. When Big Man gets to kindergarten I’ll be two years older.
An old watch on a young wrist.
To Buster: The abridged story of my relative elderliness
Yes, Buster, I am old, compared to your classmates’ fathers. It’s not the way I planned it. You see, I was supposed to marry my high school sweetheart. Only, I didn’t have a high school sweetheart. The best I could do was a high school crush. It’s considerably more awkward to marry your high school crush. Unlike all the romance you’ve projected onto her from afar, a marriage is something that both parties should be aware of.
Then, I was supposed to marry that wonderful girl I met in college. But you see, Buster, I was too focused on my studies in the field of beerology to go around falling in love. There was that one potentially wonderful girl who might have turned my head, but she was either less wonderful than I thought, or she spent every single Friday and Saturday night washing her hair. It was probably the latter, because one night I saw her walking arm in arm with a frat boy, and he looked like he knew a lot about conditioner.
But that was okay, Buster, because once I made a name for myself, it would be easy to find a wife. Turns out it’s harder than you might think to make a name for yourself in retail management. Plus, when you hit your late 20s, all the college kids who work for you think you’re over the hill. And when you assign them to clean the store’s bathrooms, they think you’re horribly old – like wicked stepmother old.
Then I got to my 30s and it got harder to meet people, including people to marry.
But here’s the good news, Buster. One day in my middle 30s, your mother came along and everything fell into place. It took a while to convince her where everything’s place was, but it worked out perfectly in the end, because now I have her, and you, and your brothers in my life.
See, Buster, if I’d married according to the plan, you wouldn’t be you. You’d be somebody else, or no one at all. I wouldn’t like that. I waited a long time for Mommy and you kids, and maybe that makes me a little old, but it was worth the wait. You’ll never find a man more satisfied at being old.
Time to pick up the kids from elementary school. Better get the donkeys saddled. (Image: Russell Lee/US Farm Security Administration)
Snoozing on the Sofa 
I hope you really did say all those things to him. They were very sweet. I’m surprised Big Man didn’t need one too.
I’ve got plenty of dead watches to go around, and words of wisdom too.
Scott, I think when Buster gets older he might look back on this letter and say something like “My old man was like a fine wine…he aged well—and had some cool old watches! 😀
Or “My old man was like a fine wine . . . too much of him made your head hurt.”
LOL 😀
Marvelously written, old man of wisdom!
Thank you, young fella.
Scott, this was so totally heart touching. There are times it is good to wait for it truly brings good things in your life. I have a neighbor somewhat in your position. He has a daughter in her 20’s, remarried and now his oldest son is in kindergarten. Yep, he’s doing it all over again. We’ve had a few talks and chuckles over the “age” subject. 🤣
My little people keep me young whenever they’re not prematurely aging me.
“Unlike all the romance you’ve projected onto her from afar, a marriage is something that both parties should be aware of.” LOL. Good things come to those who wait. 🙂
That’s what I was thinking every time I got rejected.
But wait. You can’t be old. You stopped time with all those watches. If that’s the case, you’re much younger then old. And the kids are younger then young.
Yes, it’s a confusing paradox. Where’s Einstein when you need him?
There’s gotta be other Einstein’s to help us.
I haven’t found any here. You look in your area.
Well I know it’s now Lowryder.
I meant not Lowryder
Thanks for helping me “celebrate” my 1000th! This is a sweet conversation. Once upon a time I wondered what life would be like if I had married the girl I met in college. I wouldn’t have my 2 boys (or at least it wouldn’t be who they are today). Like you, wouldn’t have it any other way (most days) 🙂
Those college girls tried to lead us all down the wayward path. Good thing we resisted the temptation.
Like Heinz said: Good things come to those who wait.
And I thought they were just talking about ketchup.
Just be sure to know when to wait and when to get up and get moving 🙂
That’s the tough part.
Entirely and completely truthful or not, that should have made Buster very happy!
Being allowed to wear the watch until he lost it would have made him happier, but oh well.
I also didn’t marry my high school crush, nor the college girlfriend I never had. I did end up marrying my best friend and fortunately for me, she came along when I was still young and handsome and funny and available.
You must have been quite a catch that day.