Twenty, Thirty, Forty something

Today was an interesting day. As I sit down to bring an end to Sunday’s events, a million things run through my mind; however, this one stands out the most.
The oursottawabears held their monthly brunch at Father’s & Sons restaurant. I was surprised that I actually had a good time with a university crowd. Father’s & Sons is smack in the middle of the University of Ottawa campus on 112 ½ Osgoode St. This place is loud and busy spot full of young kids.
I think as we age we fear young people. We think that they will never understand who we are and look at us more or less like a parental figurehead who “just doesn’t get it” anymore. Maybe that’s my own paranoia being that I’m a step dad to a 20 year old university kid. Whichever the case, one guy asked me if I was the “bear dude leader” so I sort of said yes (sorry Angus I took credit this time) and he just said “ah kewl”. I won someone’s approval today that old people contribute to society in some fashion. Most looked at this group of mature, furry, extra pounds-of-love-handles types with mild curiosity. While I don’t think that they knew the full nature of our organisation, I do think that the students understood that we all share a common theme of belonging and of brotherhood.
When you see young kids and they are acting crazy and loud remember we’ve all been down that road. They don’t have the 20 years plus on their belts that we do and have not developed their socially acceptable adult skill set. And really, don’t we all act silly and crazy when we go out with our friends? Are we really on our best behaviour as adults all the time? I think not. How boring if we where... Better yet if you see me turn into to someone like that, come over and bitch slap me! Trust me, it would be my pleasure to do it to you!!!
The point to this lesson today is about respect. Appreciate the fact that young and old, big or little, furry or not, we all come out to be with people we like to have a great time. We want to be heard, be loud, be seen and loved.
It’s ok to be silly. After all, that twenty year old lives in all of us...

Until next time
MOB09