Motivation comes in many different forms
It’s funny what motivates people. For me, it might be a diet Coke - or a chance to go do something I really like.
It’s different for others, but I think I finally got a hand on the new generation.
I was at my friend Darby’s house Monday night looking at the photos she took while camping with her daughter’s family last weekend. The cabin they go out to is somewhere in the bush (no roads, just lake access) between Stuart Lake and Trembler.
The snow is deep and lush, the trees hang with moss and the horizon is a blur of mountains.
I sighed as I flashed through photo after photo. The sun, perfectly round and golden, peering from between fluffy clouds, charmed me.
To Patrick: (A child of my heart) Isn’t that pretty?
He grunted. I think it was a yes grunt but it’s sometimes hard to tell. Another shot caught my eye, a large rock outcropping. My friend and her family sat around a campfire lit sometime in the early afternoon, the flames kissing their smiling faces.
To Patrick: Ohhh. It looks like so much fun.
He snorted, but it wasn’t a derisive snort.
I giggled when she showed me the video of her six-year-old gutting a fish while she gagged and tried to get away.
To Patrick: Funny!
The sound he made was noncommittal at best, but at least he was looking at the picture.
Darby: You and your kids are coming this summer.
I let out a delighted laugh. Darby’s girl grinned. Patrick paled.
Pat: Going where? Going there?
His face twisted in horror when Darby nodded.
Pat: I hate fish. And what if I want to go to the corner store? And I suck at chopping wood. Did I mention I hate fish??
Darby: You’re going.
It sounded more like a threat than an invitation.
Being a bit nervous about earning the Ire of Darby, Pat remained quiet about the proposed summer trip - at least until we got to the car.
Pat: I am not going. I hate fish. I mean I really hate fish. And the water is full of fish. Sometimes they brush up against you in the water. Ewwww. (His face screwed up and he twitched.) And I really hate chopping wood. And what about tubing? On the water? I could drown. Or wind up in the lake with the fish!
Me: We went swimming together at Davy Lake last summer.
Pat: (Staring at me like I’d gone nuts.) Only when there were no fish in the water!
Me: There are always fish in the water. And you chased a snake.
Pat: (Grimacing.) Snakes are different. Snakes are cool. I’m not going.
He sat there in stony silence for as long as he could stand - which is 15 seconds tops.
Pat: I’m seriously not going.
Me: They have cell service.
Pat: (Brightening a bit.) They do?
Me: And satellite television. And lots of games.
Pat: Really?
Me: (Knowing I just about had him over the last barrier, but also knowing I needed a deal clincher. After all he is a teenaged boy.) And girls. Lots and lots of girls.
He eyed me suspiciously, and he should have. I have no idea if there are teams of lovely young lasses out at that lake or not, but my expression must have passed muster.
Finally, knowing his infatuation with the too cool for school Barney Stinson character from How I Met Your Mother, I asked, “What would Barney do?”
Pat: Well, maybe I’ll give it a try.
Though I may not have quite honest with my boy, I’m sure some day he’ll look back on this conversation and think Legend - wait for it - Dary.
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