January 2002

My son and I have this thing: whenever I come home from playing golf, he always asks me excitedly, "Did you win, Dad?" I have explained to him time and time again that even though you're playing with others, in most cases you're really just playing against yourself. Still, he always greets me with, "Dad, did you win?"

This time, the family was on vacation and I had gone out to play a round. When I returned, the kids were swimming in the hotel pool, which was full of young kids and surrounded by dozens of proud, but tired, parents.

"Hey buddy!" I yelled to him.

"Hey dad!" He yelled upon spotting me. I looked at him and thought, I am one lucky father guy.

From across the pool, at the top of his lungs, my son yelled, "Were you just playing with yourself!?"

All eyes turned towards me.

We checked out that night.