The day before the Chickenfoot concert was Memorial Day, and our friend Kevin Dugan, who works with the band, ended up having the day off in Boston, so, at long last, he was able to meet our kiddos.
Now, when Mr. Dugan is on tour with Sammy and Michael, he lives a very different life than that of two parents with small children … which is to say that going to bed both early and sober is not part of his usual routine. So the fact that he did so Sunday night specifically so that he could be spry and chipper for his little family day with us just goes to show you the kind of stand-up guy he is.
We spent the early afternoon strolling around Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston, and I do so wish someone had taken a picture of all of us together, because when you spot a little family of four with a jogging stroller on a sunny, 80-something-degree day in Boston, you don’t normally see with them a dude who has long, flowing hair and a full beard and is clad in black jeans and a black “Poison” road-crew shirt. But nobody took that picture, so here’s your consolation prize.
As shown in the photo at that link, the lovely Ms. Jayna played shy in front of Kevin, from “Hello” straight through our visit to Regina Pizza (and, incidentally, I’ve yet to bring to that establishment an out-of-towner who doesn’t end up agreeing that the pizza is simply phenomenal).
Most of Jayna’s shyness could be attributed to the fact that she was in dire need of a nap, and the rest of it could be attributed to the fact that it was the first time she’d ever met a big dude with long, flowing hair and a full beard clad in black jeans and a black “Poison” road-crew shirt.
Zan, however, is a bit of a rocker, so he and Kevin hit it off, and when Kevin asked him if he played an instrument and learned that Zan has a drum set, Kevin made a remark about having to get for Zan a pair of drumsticks from Chickenfoot drummer Chad Smith. (Chad also is the drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, for those keeping track.) And when you say something like that to Zan, it gets placed at the top of his “List of Things I’m Going To Obsess About,” so you sure as shit better not make such statements lightly. (See “David Ortiz autographed baseball.”)
Fortunately for us, Kevin doesn’t make such statements lightly; Chad played with those very sticks. (Kev threw in a bunch of Michael’s guitar picks, too. He’s good like that.)
I am hopeful that someday my grown-up son will realize how ridiculously uncommon were a number of his childhood experiences. In the meantime, though, I’m just having fun facilitating them.
4 Comments
He’s a lucky friggin kid. I’m jealous of your son. I don’t know what’s more awesome, the baseball or the sticks. He’ll probably grow up to hate baseball and rock n roll. Won’t that be a kick in the teeth. By the way, if that happens, you can pass that stuff on to me. I’ll cherish it for ya
So cool that your friend switch gears from rocker to hanging in the Burbs. Your son is one lucky kid. I have a feeling this is just one of many cool experinece to come.
Have a great weekend.
Those uncommon experiences are the best! The ones he’ll remember and be telling to his friends and his kids someday. Too awesome!
We once took Lil Daughter to a Ginger Baker drum workshop. (Her dad is a drummer.) She vaguely remembers meeting Ginger Baker. He was very sweet to her, but she was only three.
On the way home, about an hour drive, she had to potty. Of course we were in the middle of nowhere. So her dad graciously (read pissed off and floored that I would suggest it) offered his coffee cup. She vividly remembers pottying in dad’s coffee cup.
Rock and Roll and toddlers make for good stories.