“I just put it in the golf bag.” Obviously. I mean, where else would the amazing Daniel Adams put a tattoo gun on a flight for a weekend trip to California? Duh.
That’s Daniel. Layers of interesting. I don’t know how many aspiring tattooists also golf, but my kid does.
I know it’s normal for us parents to each think our offspring is pretty darn cool. But Daniel’s a guy I would think is cool even if he wasn’t mine.
He’s been living in Kansas again. He’s at Pitt State working on his Bachelor’s in some advanced tractoring. I couldn’t tell you what the degree is actually called. He may not even know. He’s in it because he’s pretty sure it’s the right thing for him, and all evidence suggests he’s absolutely right; once again.
He recently interviewed for an internship with a fortune 500 construction company. When offered a position, he was asked about if he had a place in mind, “Somewhere in the West Coast region, preferably.” That’s all the weigh-in Dan needs to give.
He’ll find out next month where he’s headed, and the following month he’ll be wherever “there” is. I’d need to plan out for a decade how to pull that off, but Danny will just roll with it.
I don’t know how he does it. There’s a lot to be said for the whole nature versus nurture argument when discussing the level of absolute chill that kid brings. I mean, I can have times of doing well under pressure. However sometimes I also feel straight resentful when I’m the first person at a stop light. I don’t want the pressure of having to pay attention to know when it’s time to go.
His brother is another amazing human, but he’ll likely stress about Dan’s upcoming endeavors more than Dan will. Daniel was thinking about how tough it must have been for Dirty to decide what truck to buy. “I’ve seen him spin out buying lunch, ‘Should I go with the $3.99 wrap, or the sandwich that’s $4.15?’” remarked a very knowing older brother.
Maybe he got it from his dad, or maybe he was just born with it; but whatever the reason, Daniel is completely unflappable.
He’s the guy who can take a weekend and turn it into an adventure. His Kansas roommate has now been on his first flight and seen his first ocean (“I just can’t believe that it’s water as far as you can see!”). He watched Dan give his first tattoo, they golfed in Daniel’s junior college town, Stockton; and they met up with other buddies Daniel picked up in his last college program. They can cram so much into so little because he’s just impossible to rattle. Even though I very much want to accomplish all that he does, I couldn’t take on 1/3 of it.
As I stood there with Dan, the girls, and 2 of Dan’s college buddies he’s picked up from far off places, I was struck with awe about all he’s able to do. The youngn’s he brought are really good people too. And I’m not just saying that because the girls laughed at my jokes. They’re solid, hard working, young people who ooze ethics and integrity. I am proud of all that he’s accomplished and am pleased that he’s stacked cool experiences on other adventures to build his portfolio of living.
It’s been great to see him and to vicariously experience his latest endeavors. He’ll be off again soon. Back to his Kansas life where he’s crowd pleased his way into more great circumstances. Him, his degree, his progress towards his other degree, his tattoo gun, his banjo, and his fishing poles, his mechanical genius, and most of all his chill; living his life to it’s fullest.
I’m not sure when he’ll be back, but I know it won’t be soon enough for me. I’m also not sure what things he’ll add to his experiential passport. Maybe next time there’ll be a tattoo gun in the golf clubs, maybe the clubs will be in a hand-tooled leather bag he’s made. With his skills and varied interests, nothing would surprise me.
#LuckiestMom
Bifocals and Barbells 