Making Walmart Memories

​On my way to Damascus yesterday, I stopped at Virginia Tech to take Elliott to a movie. After the movie, he asked if we could stop and get a phone charger. His had died. (And when a college student's phone charger dies you have to fear the student's passing is sure to follow!!).

So, I said sure. Walmart is just across the street.

I have to confess - it has been years since I've been in a Walmart. Nothing against Walmart - but EVERYTHING against giant buildings filled with lots of people looking for the ten zillion things they do (and mostly don't) need. So, three steps inside the doors, my central nervous system was in full fight-flight-freeze mode - and Walmart is one of those rare places that can trigger all three at once.

We quickly found a phone charger. Then I asked Elliott if he needed anything else.

He said no. Then I prodded - you sure you don't need any snacks or anything. He said, "Well, I guess some snacks wouldn't hurt."

And when he said that - and as we headed to the snacks - it hit me how much I needed him to NEED snacks. It hit me how good it felt to return to that part of fatherhood - if only for a brief stroll through the snack aisle and a checkout line - where being dad meant taking care of a kid.

I remember the days of taking little boys into Walmart with deep dread. Nothing compounds the chaos of Walmart like the chaos of toddlers.

But yesterday, he was no longer a toddler. Or chaotic. Just a young man that now fully understand that all of that stuff in Walmart - not the least of which is phone chargers - doesn't grow on trees.

It's not free for the taking.

Unless you're with a dad longing to take care of his kid one more time.

Then it's free for the taking.