Happy Dad's Day! Happy Mom's Day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SON! HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, DAD! AND NOT TO MENTION,HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, MOM!
!MOM AND DAD, THANK YOU!

Intro Photo scanned from a Postcard; all other Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, Hanging bird Mobiles courtesy of Amazon.com

I was having a fine time, no worries, just eat, sleep and swim, day in and day out. I bobbed up and down, whenever I want, anytime of the day. I was nestled in a small, seemingly quiet wet cocoon, then I felt my mom was wincing and my time was up, time to leave whether I liked it or not. It was a smooth-sailing process, slid out of the dark alley-way like an eel and suddenly...blub. All messed-up and sticky, I arrived the world with startled eyes. It was kind of hazy. Nothing came out of my lips. I saw this guy grinning at me saying something I could not understand. He grabbed my feet and hung me upside-down, gave me a slight pat on my butts and I cried. Whaa-Whaa! finally came out of my lips. Why did he do that for? The people in white rushed up and about, one putting me in a warm scale...

...and said, what a heavy fellow! Well, I could not talk back and say, please look at the mirror! After I got all cleaned-up, powdered-up and down and all wrapped-up, I met another guy who has just recovered from a collapse. I guessed this guy was so familiar, his intimate ways towards my mom told me so. His hair was ruffled and pale but he immediately came back to his senses. It was kind of embarrassing. My dad passed-out at the sight of me? Was I not a cutie or better yet, (ac)cutie? I heard his voice and knew it was my Dad. He had a camera before his eyes and he started to make some clicks. It blinded me for a while. He said Cuchi, Cuchi?! Cheese! Whaa-Whaa!! I thought, what was that for? I was all stressed-up. The noise, the bright lights, the people around me were a little bit too much to bear. Could this be just the beginning? Then, a warm, tender hand touched and kissed my cheeks. My mom! She was my friend all these months. She talked to me, sang to me and I replied with some (dancing) kicking left and right, up and down. Sometimes, I didn't like what she ate like chocolates with pickles. Whaa! Whaa!! I feel hungry! Mom, please don't feed me with chocolates and pickles. I hate them. She fed me with something else.

Then, I fell asleep. It was heavenly. All of a sudden, an odd couple came around me and said, !How are you doing, Winifred!? What? How could you name me like that? It was unfair. I could not choose my name. My mom and dad did not give a veto nor a big Njet! (I think that is Russian for No!) It was Winnie from my godmother and Fred from my godfather. I beg you both, please call me something else. I could see myself being jested by other kids who would say things which were difficult to bear. I could hear them say, Fred, where is Wilma? How did I know Fred and Wilma? My Mom liked to watch cartoons. Anyway, it so happened that I was named Winifred against my will. Who was I to object to this century-old ritual?
We went home and there were colored balloons all over. They were all tied-up on the trees, lots of them. There were other kids too (neighbor's kids?). I did not see them before. It looked like they were having some fun, (at my expense?) Then, I got passed from one person to another like a doll. They got friendly smiles and said some things I could not understand. Finally, mom took me and an old couple came, my grandma and grandpa. They had no teeth like I did. I was so happy. They had grey hair and I had no hair at all. Finally, they flashed an envelope and my mom took it (for my sake!). My grandpa asked me, what for goodness sake is your name? I thought, why was he asking my name when everybody knows what my name was. Then I knew he was just starting a small talk with me. I smiled at him and he gave me a wet kiss on my cheek. Mom, please save me for a while. I needed a little break from all these. Mom took me to my room, all in blue. A bird-mobile was hanging up there in the ceiling, mom touched it and it chimed.
I started to doze-off and all-of-a-sudden, it was silence. PSST! I was dreaming I was back in mom's cradle. Deja-vu! My worries for the future were gone.
As I grew older, year-in, year-out, I got used to all familiar faces and rituals. My mom made a photo album for each occasion. My dad, as usual, took the photos. My grandparents handed-over a sealed envelope to my mom every time they visited. I wondered what that was. I did not ask my mom as I was busy blowing the candles or posing for photos.

They were like paparazzis. I went to kindergarten, primary, elementary school, high school but nobody teased me because of my name. Oh, please, don't get me wrong, godparents, grandparents. I am starting to like my name, I just have to get used to it. I went to college hoping that my name would not bother me. Some girls giggled when they heard my name. I started to worry. Would I meet some girl who would not care about my name? I spent my time at the library, reading books, studying day-in and day-out. Computers were not in the market yet. Graduation came, I was the best among my peers, summa-cum-laude!

My parents were so proud of me as I was making my speech. After the ceremony, my diploma on my left hand, my mom reached for my right hand and gave me a sealed envelope. It was a Bank Book with a mind-boggling sum. Then, I knew what all these years meant.. what my grannies were handing-over my mom. God, bless their souls! They were not able to see how I did with my life. I finally found someone who did not care about what my name was but who I was. My mom and dad raised me to be a fine, young man and became successful in my field. I started my own business (remember the bank book?) I got married and the cycle repeated itself.
My son was born. How would I name him? My wife said that name did not really matter but I contradicted her. I was kind of worried about my son. Would he hate me or would he love me for the name I was giving him? I did not want the godparents to decide about the naming process. I got through it. Days passed and still I did not have any name for him. I called him, son. I had to be careful. He would carry this name for the rest of his life. I went through the magazines, books to get some ideas, no luck. I meditated and shook my head. How would my son think? When I was in his shoes, I was thinking a lot. I could not decide for him. I would owe him his future. If other kids would make jokes on him because of his old-fashioned name, I could not bear that. In my time, nobody cared how my name was. But now, in this computer age, kids might be insensible and direct. How about naming him...Kevin...Christopher...just like everybody's kid on the block. As I was breaking my head over the matter my wife suggested that it should be a different one and not some kind of a regular name that everybody had. Is she saying what I was just thinking? She preferred an old-fashioned name just like mine. My goodness gracious! I was a little bit breathless and uneasy. My name is Winifred and I was at first not happy about it! I did not care what others thought but what would my son think? Then, I had this idea! I would call him WINNER! But wait, some kids may call him Wiener (sausage) or Whiner. Oh, my dad! His name is Jack. Some kids may call my son, Jack Sparrow, the pirate is some kind of film or Jack, the Ripp...For heart's sake, never! The search went on and on. I was at the end of my line and patience. I consulted www.google.com. Got lots of names from A to Z. Why did I not think about it. There were lots of names to choose from, one nicer than the other. I was confused. I owe my son a good name he would also be happy about, one he would not hate me for. Then, like a blitz striking me, I got it. I would call him Jun, short for Junior.

I hope he would like it. Hello, Jun! How are you? It was nice to hear. If I had a daughter, I would call her June. My son giggled at me and stretched, kicked and bobbed his arms and legs. He was happy. What's in the name? I took pains to look for a name for my dear son and finally, I got it. It was not easy but worth it. He would love me for that. I am 100% sure about it. Jun has some kind of flair and it has the smell of success. I was also successful in business and my son would follow my footsteps. No doubt about it. My wife was happy about the name. His future would be bright. We wished him good health and good wealth.

Talking about smell, my son just pooped in his diapers.