Thursday, 11 April 2002

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    Heroes are Hard to Find

    Monday night after the game I ran into Mike's daughter in the bar.  I have some questions about why an eighth grader is hanging out in a bar at 10:30 at night on a school night but the last time I raised them he sort of looked at me like I had several heads and fangs.  Not my business then.

    In any case, she says she wants to be "like" me, which turns out to mean she wants to be a photographer when she grows up.  I briefly discuss the proper course of study with her, and will likely go into more detail on it with her over the summer, as well as how her how to work a camera, as we watch Miracle Baseball together quite a bit.  She's my little park pal.

    And I'm assuming that she wants to go into photo journalism, which is quite a bit more lucrative then the weddings, parties, anything gig which I tend to deal in.  Then again, I was studying broadcasting in school and didn't touch a camera until I was 23.  But I'm not going to tell her that. I'm going to tell her how to do it the right way.

    (Most freelancers, which is the catagory I fall into, also hold down other jobs to make sure we don't starve in between gigs.  Portrait photographers don't do too badly, but you probably won't get rich at it either.  Photo journalism is definately the way to go if you want to make a living shooting film.)

    This is somewhat better then my first reaction, which was that she wanted to drink too much and hang out with hockey players.  Most of the kids I know in that age category think the hanging out with hockey players part is cool and don't pay much attention to the drinking part.  That really isn't the kind of example I want to setting for them but...some of them get some strange ideas about what they want to be like when they grow up.

    Of course, these same kids don't see my other bad habits like being an indifferent housekeeper and procrastinating with the laundry.  Neither do I give them cooking lessons which is something I wouldn't mind them wanting to emulate.  I am not half bad in the kitchen.

    The first time I realized I had kids looking up to me as an example came a couple of years ago when Leslee told me daughter had a mild case of hero worship.  She's since outgrown that I think, and she certainly is growing up into a lovely young lady.  So hopefully I did okay.  I don't think I'm much of the hero type, myself.

    Mike's daughter is a little different then the other kids though in that he is MY hero -- especially so since the night he found my lost car keys!  So I sort of feel like I have to set a really good example for her.  Like no bad language while I'm heckling the batters and stuff like that.

    (Interlude from NARCh:  Mike was working...they were all working double shifts seven days a week through the tourney but he comes over to the main rink to watch the tag end of a game.  Afterwards I take him over to meet Bob and Arlene, Rob's folks who I also call Dad and Mom because I get the parental treatment from them too.  "This is my friend, Mike," I tell them.  "He's my hero!"

    Mike stands there with his hands in his pockets looking dorky.  I elbow him in the ribs.  "Try to look at least a little heroic," I unstruct him under my breath.  He stands up straight.  Well...it's a start.

    "He's also one of our backup goalies."  Mike gives them a cheesy smile.  "if you need to know anything about hockey down here in Southwest Florida, he's the one to ask."

    They reply pleased to meet you and shake his hand and then Dad quips "Hey, where are all the grouper hiding?"

    Mike laughs and says "Wish I knew!"  He left shortly thereafter to see if there were any more kids that needed stitching.  One of the kids on a Pee Wee team took a puck to the face and he'd just finished the needle work on him.  He told me Aaaalllll about it later.  ::sigh::)

    Going back to the original story, While we were talking I asked if her Dad had given her the last batch of pictures I'd sent over and she said "No, which ones where those?"  You can tell she takes after him right?

    I reminded her about the game shots she'd asked me for.  "Oh yeah.  I'm sure he's got them someplace."

    I know he forgets to bring me things all the time, but he couldn't remember to take those to his own daughter?  Especially after I enclosed a note telling him she'd asked for them???? That's really bad.  I was gravely disappointed in him.  I'd say something about it to him but I know he'll tell me he just forgot.  Then again, maybe if I make him feel bad enough over the issue, he'll remember?

    Anyway...here is Mullethead and daughter during goalie camp:

    Mike & daughter

    Teaching goaltending is easy.  Figuring out how to operate the video camera...now THAT is tough!

    The Blades got knocked out of the playoffs last night as Greenville took a 4-3 win to progress to the division finals.  Not really unexpected.  I'm actually surprised they GOT into the playoffs in the first place.  The Hurricanes secured the Southeast Division Championship and are getting ready for a Stanley Cup run and our AHL Affiliated Lowell Lock Monsters start their playoff race shortly.

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