The four of us had just finished moving our son into his university dorm when we were walking an extraordinary long way to find an administration office we needed for one final detail. We plodded along the dusty sidewalk in silence. We were tired and feeling pretty grumpy at this point.

On the way, I spotted a plant with fuzzy leaves. It might have been Lamb’s Ear. I plucked one and stroked it a couple of times before passing it to my son. I’m guessing he did the same and passed it to my daughter.

A few steps later, I hear my daughter say that she had broken the leaf to which my son replied dryly “Okay, Lenny” at my daughter, who looked utterly offended.

I roared with laughter in the middle of the hot sidewalk. I could not be more proud that my children could refer flawlessly to Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men.

Parenthood is full of pitfalls. No one ever tells you that absolute truth. Always search for the good. This tiny moment will forever remain one of my greatest triumphs.

Addendum: When I initially published this blahg, I made the grave and extremely ironic error of writing Grapes of Wrath instead of Of Mice and Men. Both of my kids corrected me separately. While absolutely mortified, I am, again, infinitely proud!