It was in the middle of the summer, and my father was cleaning out the shed. I was playing ball in the front of my house with my neighbor Roy and a couple of kids who lived on the block. “Vic, this is the third time I asked you to pick up these Tonka trucks & put them in the house or I am throwing them out!!” my father yelled from the backyard. I blew him off & continued to shoot hoops as if to say I didn’t care about the Tonka Trucks, do what you want with them. My father had a very effective way of punishing us, he used psychology as opposed to physical abuse. My mom would give us our well deserved ass kickings, but he would either publicly embarrass you or do something in the manner I am about to explain. He calls over to one of the kids on the block who was sitting sideline while me and Roy battled it out on the court. “Hey do you want these Tonka trucks? My son doesn’t want them anymore.” Before the kid could even finish saying yes, the basketball was rolling down the block and I was stampeding behind him. “No dad!! They are my Tonka trucks!! HE CAN’T HAVE THEM!!!!” My father then said, “You no longer own these trucks. You failed to put them where they belong, so now I am giving them away”. THE NERVE OF HIM!!!!! I thought… How can he give this fucking nerd my trucks like its all good? The kid was all smiles while my father piled three trucks into his arms as he tried to maintain his balance. I lost my mind! I was completely in shock that my father did this & I ripped the trucks out of his hands and THEN attempted to bring them in the house like this was the first time I was told to do so. The poor kid caught a left hook to his chest for even accepting MY PROPERTY! My father then grabbed the trucks, and carried them down the block to the kids house with me kicking, screaming and still gripping onto them. I hated that kid. Now I hated him even more. My father would explain to me on the walk home that I was spoiled & that I didn’t appreciate all the things I had. He used the old saying, you never know what you have until it is gone.
I guess the moral of my story is that even today, as adults….we tend to overlook some of the little things, and we fail to thank god for EVERYTHING we have. In this case…metaphorically…My father is god, and the trucks represent either a relationship with someone special, or a convenience in my life that I failed to recognize or handle with care. I have learned from that experience, yet I still need to remind myself every now and then of those Tonka Trucks. So don’t let god give away yours…take care of your relationships as if they are your favorite toys…recognize every category in life in which you are spoiled, weather it be with a special woman/man, great friends, a prosperous career move, money, or even health. I know it is easier said than done, but if you pay close attention to your blessings you will have less time to focus on your hardships.
