This is a bittersweet weekend for me.

This is the first time in a number of years that both of my boys are home for father’s day.  Well, the younger one has never missed one since we keep him hostage in his room when he isn’t going to high school or helping his mom in her metal-work.  It’s the older one who blew us off with the “I’m in college now and have class tomorrow” excuse for the last four years.

Girls vs. Dad.  Yea, that’s a tough choice.

I’m not sure if our family is doing anything “Special” this weekend, but we are going to spend it here together as a family.

Which means I’m not going to see my dad on Sunday.  Ah, feel that tinge of guilt?  It’s right there, I can see it lurking out of the corner of my eye, waiting, waiting, waiting… and then pouncing.  Don’t worry too much, it gets a little better with time.  Not really, I just tell myself that.  It’s what they call a “coping mechanism”.

I’m off to South Carolina on Monday to conduct a bunch of employee focus groups for a client of mine so I won’t see my dad until next weekend, but he understands.

I have been “thinking” a lot more these days as I watch Josh get ready for his first job in the real world.  My older son is leaving the nest, getting ready to start his own life apart from us.  It all reminds me of a wonderful song by Harry Chapin, Cats in the Cradle:

I’ve long since retired and my son’s moved away.
I called him up just the other day.
I said, “I’d like to see you if you don’t mind.”
He said, “I’d love to, dad, if I could find the time.
You see, my new job’s a hassle, and the kid’s got the flu,
But it’s sure nice talking to you, dad.
It’s been sure nice talking to you.”
And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me,
He’d grown up just like me.
My boy was just like me.

What’s different now? Instead of always thinking of my dad as the “father” in that song, I’m now the dad.  And I wonder if my boy will grow up to be “just like me”.

Happy Father’s Day dad…  Stick around for another one for me, OK?