Since Dale has been old enough to remember I have managed to do something to surprise him for his birthday. But this year I didn’t have anything planned. He is getting older, and I told him last year his next “party” would be when he celebrates thirty. Now don’t get me wrong, we will definitely celebrate EVERY year but after his 21st/graduation party, I told him I’m done until then. It was a pretty fantastic shindig. 

Anyways, The Famous Arshon, as Dale calls her, text me Friday night about a Stevie Wonder tribute that was being held at a dinner club the next night. If you know Dale, then you know he is his favorite artist of all times. The introvert in me was like, ok, no, tomorrow, as in less than 24 hours from now, I don’t think I can do it. Well, two hours later I found myself purchasing a pair of tickets. I mean after all, according to Dale, although I agreed to take him to his favorite restaurant on his actually birthday, he made it perfectly clear that he prefers my surprises, so here was my opportunity to keep my reign. 

On our way to what ended up being an amazing show, at a stop sign Dale has this very peculiar look on his face. I asked him was everything ok? He says “yes, but” and he mouths the rest of his sentence as he’s pointing at the lady in the car next to us. “She should not be drinking and driving” I said “what, Dale, why are you mouthing your words, the windows are up and no one can hear what we are saying.” He repeats himself out loud this time. 

The light changed, so we continued on our way so I decided to ask, “Dale, what makes you think she’s drinking and driving?” He said “I saw her take a sip.” I asked, “sip of what, was it a beer can or a liquor bottle or something?” He said “I don’t know.” I said “then we don’t know if she was drinking and driving.”

With one of the most serious faces I’ve seen yet on his face he firmly says “no, I don’t know what she was sipping on for sure, but it’s no drinking and driving, PERIOD!!” When I tell you a laughed so loud that tears were rolling down my cheek. 

It is amazing how his mind works. I try to explain to people how literal he can be and that he learns things one way. Gray areas and exceptions to rules are a very hard concept for him to grasp. He generally will not veer off of what he’s been taught just because in his mind, it’s law. 

Fast forward, no more than one block further than where this happened, I look over and he is knocked out. By this time he has Jeff Durham playing on his phone so it’s watching him because he’s in full nap mode. I pull up to the place and he pops up as if he was never sleep. I said “I can’t believe you, you slept almost the entire trip.” Without missing a beat, in good ole fashion Dale style, he says “oh, I wasn’t sleep, you said this was a surprise and I’m not supposed to know where I’m going so I decided to close my eyes.”

Well I’ll be dag on, all I could do is laugh, with each year his wit gets strong and quicker. Never a dull moment for sure.