Momservation: Sometimes having your priorities straight means the memories you made and the laughter you shared is worth not having a doctor’s excused absence.
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Apparently, there is something more important than an education.
A parade in San Francisco celebrating the Giants’ World Series victory.
Yep, pulled my kids out of school last Wednesday because a unique life experience trumped another day of reducing fractions and silent partner reading.
Actually, it wasn’t my idea. I mean it was, but the practical mom in me when I learned of the mid-day parade first said, “Can’t go. The kids have school.”
Then the kids’ favorite aunt (the fun, seize life by the tail one) called Tuesday from San Francisco and asked, “What would you say if I came and kidnapped the kids and took them to the Giants’ parade?”
That’s when I realized, you know what? This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience – the opportunity to step from being an outside observer to an enthusiastic participant in life. A chance to see up close and personal the heroes that make us want to got out and do something great ourselves. A celebration of what is good in the world when everything else seems to being going bad.
“Not without me!” I decided in a liberating moment of spontaneity. I moved some appointments, packed the kids and me an overnight bag, and called the kids in sick to school the next day with a Giant Fever.
Then we slipped into our Buster Posey, Tim Lincecum and Brian Wilson jerseys (and fake black beard) and slipped out of town to go be a part of something amazing.
And it was. One of the best things I have ever done with my children. I know I will vividly remember it forever. I know they will too. I hope one day they’ll be inspired to reset their priorities for just one day when the opportunity for something magical comes knocking on their family’s door.
The Giants’ parade atmosphere was jubilant, electric, celebratory, and full of good will. The crowd of thousands assembling along Montgomery and Market Streets all the way to the Civic Center wildly cheered anything and everything along the parade route including a pre-parade Budweiser delivery truck.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wO5KQkKYDcM]
Getting there two hours before the parade started we scored nearly front row seats along the route on Market Street. But in the spirit of love, happiness and all things Giants that permeated the city the fans who arrived before us let my kids slip to the front.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnywHa5ALDQ]When the parade began I gave my son my video camera and my Brian Wilson beard, my daughter my Giants baseball hat, and I had my zoom lens poised and ready.
And what a once-in-a-lifetime parade it was. We high-fived San Francisco mayor (and day before elected CA Lieutenant Governor) Gavin Newsome. We were within feet of legendary Willie Mays and Willie McCovey. We saw first-hand the World Series trophy in the hands of now brilliant manager Bruce Bochy. We eagerly cheered our favorites Posey, Lincecum, Huff, and Wilson when they slowly went by on their cable car floats and they waved back to us. We even went deliriously crazy when Wilson spotted my son in the crowd with his beard and urged Sergio Romo (who was interacting with the crowd) to go give him a high five.
We basically saw the men of the Giants reduced to little boys who couldn’t believe their sandlot dreams came true and a million people eager to live vicariously through them.
But the most magical part of the whole thing was being there with my children on the day I saw them light up with the hope that dreams can come true, that hard work pays off, and with the support of others anything is possible.
That’s something that just can’t be found in a school book.