I've long enjoyed the concept of hidden treasure. The idea
of something of intrinsic value lost for generations before finally being
rediscovered by some intrepid adventurer. For that reason, stories about
treasure hunting have always appealed to me. That's probably the same reason
that Bethany and I initially took up letterboxing
as well. Just to be preemptive since I realize most people haven't heard of
letterboxing, it's essentially geocaching without the need of a GPS. All you
need is a stamp, ink pad, a little paper, and some instructions via the
internet.
I'm aware I lack most of the physical and mental abilities
to become an epic adventurer discovering some long-lost treasure. I don't speak
multiple languages, am good with puzzles, or can do a pull-up unassisted (maybe
someday). It goes without saying I'll never be Indiana Jones, Dirk Pitt, Ben
Gates or Nathan Drake. I'll never even be Travis from 'The Rundown' (Bonus points
if you know that reference). However, that doesn't keep me from enjoying quests
to find, let's say, less-valuable treasures in my own life.
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| "Hey, remember your friend, Mr. Thunder? How 'bout his buddy, Mr. Lightning?" |
Flashback to Wednesday of this week. As you likely well
know, Kansas City, already blanketed in snow, is subject to single-degree
temperatures to boot. Let's acknowledge the fact that most people would not
choose to step foot in said conditions unless absolutely necessary. You know,
reasons such as work, urgent grocery runs, or in the case of yours truly, a
dentist appointment. Luckily for Ellie, Bethany's presence at home meant she
didn't have to come out on this adventure with me.
Knowing the conditions that awaited me outside, I took great
care to bundle up appropriately. Warm jeans, tall socks, and hoodie under my
winter coat for starters. One final step to ensure my warmth was necessary; my
insulated hiking boots. As most would probably do with boots covered in a
wintery-slush mix, I leave them in a place where they can't really make a mess.
That being our subbasement. With everything else ready to go, I headed down the
stairs to grab my boots. Upon grabbing them, I headed back up the stairs to our
family room and sat down to put them on.
If you've never tried to put on shoes with a toddler in the
room, take my word for it when I tell you it's not easy. As I was tying up one
boot, Ellie snatched the other from the floor beside me and began running
around the room happily waving it above her head. After plenty of prompting
from both Bethany and me, Ellie finally returned the boot to me, dropping it on
the ground at my feet, tread up. As I flipped over the boot, I was absolutely
floored by the discovery of what was underneath.
To fully explain to you what that was, I need to take you
back to Spring of 2017. Specifically Wednesday, March 8, 2017. As you may
remember, Ellie and I had been spending a lot of time in our hammock, enjoying
the beauty of the outdoors. At the end of our hammocking adventure for the day,
I was wrought with despair to find something was missing. Despite all of my
searching, I could not locate that precious item.
At least that was true until yesterday as I lifted up my
boot to see that long-lost item looking up at me. What was that item you may
ask? Simple. Ellie's best-fitting sock! The best that I can figure, Ellie
kicked her foot just right on our trip back inside from the hammock on that
fateful day right as we passed by my winter boots leading to the sock gently
falling inside one of them. Upon the discovery of the sock, I immediately
called out to my wife to come and look. As she appeared at the top of the
stairs, she was immediately overcome by intense laughter at the sight of the long-lost
sock.
At long last, finally, the Sockapocolypse had achieved resolution. And all without the help of Chuck Norris...#DaddyWrite
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| Reunited and it feels so good... |
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