I Can Fly Dad!
Posted: Tuesday, April 27, 2010
by Richard Radtke
http://www.cottagebythelane.com
My son Ethan's birthday was the other day, four years old and going strong. Every day like every child, he discovers something new, and I with him. He has a stubborn streak, which is good, although there are times. He is curious, and tries to be helpful when he can, usually I just grin at him and sigh inside, then follow behind and pick up. One morning not long ago I was standing in the bathroom, shaving, having just showered and dressed, Ethan came tapping at the closed door, and I said "What now Ethan?", (probably a little to gruffly I now realize). His small, strong voice answered, somewhat muffled through the door, "Dad...," "Dad, I can fly", in a solemn voice akin to that of a judge passing sentence.
Tried and true, burnished with the voices of thousands of men through centuries of use, I uttered the perfected phrase, "That's nice son", and Ethan satisfied now that his great announcement from left field had received its accolades, went back to every little brothers main passion in life, namely that of annoying his older brother. I relaxed, knowing the crisis had passed, reassured now as to the wisdom of my reply by the sound of Ethan's footsteps receding into the distance, and went back to my shaving, and here the story could end, but it doesn't.
I stood there looking into the mirror, and thinking that perhaps, Ethan really could fly, it really would not surprise me, if anyone could, it would be Ethan. I remembered in my youth when I too could fly, but now that I'm grown up I can't. I don't really know exactly when it was I discovered I couldn't fly anymore, perhaps it was around the same time I stopped seeing animal shapes in the fluffy clouds of the sky. I don't really know, at least not exactly, but a lot of my childhood magic disappeared one day. I stopped shaving and stood there, staring at myself in the mirror on the wall. I silently wished for the magic's return, but the magic did not appear. Finished shaving, I walked out into the living room, to find Willis and Ethan playing, so I paused and just watched. Ethan was sitting in the laundry basket, (the one he has been told to leave alone numerous times) a sharp word I felt spring to my lips. Before it was uttered, Ethan in a breath of childish glee, called out, "Daddy, my jet, I'm flying, see!!". The word of rebuke forgotten, I stared, and for a brief instant, I saw what Ethan saw there. The clear blue sky, fluffy clouds floating by, and way, way down below many people looking up at me, waving... and for small second of time that long forgotten magic of childhood so long ago came back and revisited my soul.
One last little thing, to tie up this tail, (forgive the pun) it's about the Easter Bunny, he's still alive and doing quite well....
Copyright 2010 RRRadtke
A little about me: I have been over the years a reporter, an editor, and a newspaper publisher. I found that the bland work of story composition in the industry became more of a chore than a love, so I have written these simply for the love of writing. Some have been pubished, some have not. I have found though that I love them all.
Although my pen has not touched paper for a few years, the stories are there and waiting to be written once again. I have found looking back on what is here and what is not here, for I have not shard them all, that what I do write, I write for myself, and while they are not perhaps the polished prose of the great writers in literature they do in their own way bring me peace and allow me to look back a bit and reflect.
What is here to be shared, has no one meaning, no central theme, and nothing that is right or wrong in interpretation of them. One thing I intensly dislike is the thought that another takes it upon themself to describe "my" meaning of a story, when in fact what they describe is their own interpretation of my story, and for them it is correct, because everything written brings a differant meaning to each of us, a perspective that is based on our own lives, and that is as it should be. The statement should not be, "The author meant this when he wrote that", but rather, "I carried away this impression when I read this authors work."
More of my stuff at "http://www.cottagebythelane.com" if your interested.
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Top-level comments on this article: (10 total)Hi Richard.This is a really lovely story. Well written and entertaining. But most of all, inspiring. I too lost the magic years ago, but I've been trying to get it back. It's a long haul, but I'm making progress. I hope you are too.Best regards,DianneAfraid its to late for me, good luck on your search. Thank you for the kind words.
really nice story to read, familiar to many I am sure but told in a personal wayThank you for your kind words
Thanks for the read.
Richard,This was a true delight to read. Beautifully written, eloquently expressed. Thank you for sharing this.Thank you, I appreciate your kindness.
When I was two my older sister said if I jumped off the front porch I could fly. She promised to catch me, if by chance I didn't fly. Total trust in my big sister, I jumped. She didn't catch me and I broke my ankle and had a cast on for weeks. I think you're right, as kids we all think (or are told) we can fly. :) Nice story Richard. I'm glad you've started writing again. Interesting bio as well.Thank you for the nice comment, I appreciate your taking the time.
I really love this moving story!
Thank you for sharing this story. Great writing.
That is sooooo true, Richard, if people would live in the moment; more often; with their children...imagine what our world would look like!!! This is an amazing article and out of the ones I have read so far, I rank it the top!! Thank you for sharing!Thank you, I am glad you enjoyed it.
Enjoyed this word snapshot, the heart of your son and yours!
I really enjoyed this. You have a very engaging style of writing. Thank you for sharing this snippet of your life.
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