Seems like he was born only yesterday, and I know I was there then. But yesterday was his birthday, and I didn't even get to speak to him.

He works at the new Lowe's store in Fayetteville and has been very busy in recent months. And loves it.

I never knew what went into opening a store like that until I heard him talking about it. I suppose I thought some kind of crew came in to define aisles and set up racks and stock the place, then the employees came in to sell the goods. Not so. The employees do it all. They walk in to bare walls, bare floors, bare everything, and make it happen. It's impressive.

My retail experience is limited to the candy counter at the dime store in Camilla, then a shoe store in Sylvester during my teen years. Luckily, nursing pulled me away from such attractions. Now, writing keeps me occupied and feeling reasonably productive.

No woman should have to subject herself to chocolate and/or shoes every day. If you are a woman, you know what I'm talking about. If you are a man who ever went shoe shopping with a woman, you know what I'm talking about. If you're lost at this point, I'm not sure I can explain.

Back to the birthday I missed yesterday. His dad stopped by Lowe's Wednesday afternoon at 5 as Dean was getting off work and asked if he'd like to have a pair of boots for his birthday Thursday. No male in this family would ever turn down a pair of boots.

So, they made what was supposed to be a quick trip out to Smith & Davis. When Daniel needs boots, he goes there or to The Trading Post, picks out a pair, tries on his size, pays, and is on his way. The effort never lasts more than ten minutes. Can you believe it?

So, I'm at home preparing dinner while these two make the quick trip Daniel had in mind. Derrick, my other son, is sitting at Dean's house waiting to take him out to dinner for his birthday. And nobody knows where the Jr. and Sr. are.

Finally, Daniel comes home around 8 p.m. His first words, “I started to tell Dean this evening that he needed to drop his pants and let me verify his gender!”

What!? (Not, I'm sorry I'm late. I should have called. Nothing. He just comes in questioning the sex of our older son.) What are you talking about?

You heard me.

What do you mean by such a remark? I changed his diapers. I know. Besides, we have two grandchildren. And, he's you all over again, in so many areas!

Have you ever been shoe shopping with him?

No.

Well, he's your son, too! Tonight proved it.

Explain.

I shouldn't have asked. I was reminded yet again of the first and only time Daniel ever went shoe shopping with me. It was before we married. He and I both figure since we survived that day (that's right - day - not morning, afternoon or evening, but day) that we can survive just about anything.

Daniel is not a shopper. He always knows what he wants. He always knows where to go and get it. He always does it in record breaking time. Assuredly, there is no blood kin between him and me. We just married one another! And we try not to shop together. I don't even like to go with him when he makes his purchases. It is so frustrating. No fun at all.

Of course, I have learned a trick. If we must go to a store together, I frequently will leave him standing in line at the checkout counter with the cart. I will say I forgot something and have to go back and get it. Then, while he stands tapping his foot, I go exploring. My timing is always perfect. I finish my brief browsing trek right on time and appear just as he is pulling out his checkbook and looking over his shoulder for that one last item I had to go find.

Of course there is no item. Shopping does not necesarily mean buying.

Daniel had watched while Dean examined every boot at Smith & Davis. When he finally made his choice, they didn't have his size, so they still had to go The Trading Post.

I asked his wife what she thought about his new boots. “What's there to think about? It's the same boot he's worn for years. He never buys anything different.”

There's a lot to be said for a comfortable pair of shoes or boots, especially if you have taken the time to know you are getting the “right” pair. Ah, yes, he is my son, and I hope his day was happy. I'm sure it was. His wife took him out to dinner last night. He did keep his date with his brother the night before. His dad made a humdinger of a memory. And I, well, I got to write about one of my favorite people in the world, my oldest son.

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