This note was inspired while perusing a photo album filled with old pics of my parents from the early 70's yesterday.

Yes, It's a long one.

When I was 12 or 13 y/o I spent the summer with my dad working on a 73 VW bug he picked up from the scrap yard earlier that spring.

We converted the bug from a hard top to a convertible.

We then replaced the original engine with one from a Porsche 911.

He would get home from work every day, do his "dad things" and we'd immediately head out to the garage, sometimes until 3am working on this car.

Sometime later that fall, when we finally got the thing running. I ran into the house to tell Mom it was done and Dad wanted her to have the first ride. I was a little disappointed bc I wanted to go for a ride, but also excited bc I would go next.

Well, Mom couldn't got for a ride bc she was in the house busy doing mom things.

I excitedly ran back told my dad "mom is busy". And so, that's how I was able to get that first ride with my pops in the VW.

I remember that experience as if it were yesterday. I think about it periodically.

Years ago, I was recounting that memory with my mom. She shrugged it off as a nothing burger. It was at that moment almost 4 decades later, I realized that she intentionally declined my dad's invite, so that I could have that first ride with my dad. She knew how much I was looking forward to it.

I'm one of the lucky few of my friends who still have their parents with them.

I'm one lucky SOB through & through.

#RandomThoughts