Fun with my son

Today I went with an elementary school class to a fire station on a walking field trip.

The first thing I discovered is that I am still socially awkward. One of the other parents talked to me and I found suddenly that I had no idea what to say and the two of us stood there in the hall outside the classroom waiting for about two minutes with nothing but uncomfortable silence. Grrrrrrrr.

This was all okay when the students showed up and we walked, I am guessing, about half of a mile to the closest fire station. The students were taken into a room and the nice firefighter went over some safety tips and demonstrated that he really doesn't know how to talk to kids in first grade.

Next he took us all outside next to the big red truck and did a much better job entertaining us all which is what we hope for in a field trip. We could have stayed in school to be bored after all. We didn't have enough time to ask any questions because suddenly his crew was invited out on a call which gave us all a chance to hear the sirens which was cool. But, the questions I wanted to ask:

* Why do all firemen have moustaches?

* Where are the poles and can I try one?

* Where is the dalmatian and does he bite?

* Are the girl firemen called firewomen or firepeople?

* Do the firewomen also have moustaches?

But really, the great part came next. I was quite surprised how much Dresden wanted me to come along on the trip. I mostly assumed he would be embarrassed by me but he was really glad to have me there. On the way home (hang on to your hats) he held my hand the whole way back to school. The - whole - way. Occasionally the grip was broken by circumstances or his friend Collin, and every time he would take my hand again.

I already loved my son completely but I loved so much that he wanted that kind of contact from me and wasn't ashamed. I got a little misty typing that sentence.

Then at his baseball game, he hit the holy crap out of the ball at least once, almost clocking the coach. Cool!