Blips

Blips

Blips are also known as surprises, detours, roadblocks, hurdles or any other word or concept that inserts an interruption into our well ordered life. We can have large blips like, “Dear, be seated. We are going to have a baby.”—major blip. They can be minor irritant blips like, “Dear, what’s it mean when this ‘engine’ light comes on? It really is very pretty.”

We must realize that they are a very real part of life. They are unavoidable, like acne. We cannot ignore blips. Saying they aren’t there will not make them go away. A great truth in life is that we must realize that our charge is to learn how to deal with blips. We all do that differently.

My children believe that they have discovered the sure solution for dealing with life’s blips. “Caution, blip ahead! Call Dad!” It warms my heart to realize that they are still dependent on me and my wife. But it also wears me out. Both of my children, who are grown men with children of their own refused, when they were young, to take “Blip Prevention” in life’s classroom. But then why should they as long as mom and dad handle their blips for them?

I have been blipping (the art of handling blips) for years. I actually began blipping at the tender age of eighteen, when my wife, Linda, and I decided that we would play ‘grown-up’ and get married—monumental blip. Fortunately, in our early naïveté we knew no better. But my innocent, young bride and I quickly became master blippists. Our parents, having mastered blipping during the depression, realized that we would need to learn to handle blips on our own. With self-control forged by blipping during their own childhood they left us to our own resources. They knew that we must face our blips head-on and learn the old fashioned way. We did.

My greatest fear is that my boys will never master the art of blipping. Now that they have children of their own, we are heartened when we see them conquer minor blips. Unfortunately, they continually require assistance on the really major blips. And after all, that is what parents are for. However, I still look forward to the time when they will become blip-sufficient. I envision that the day will come when I lay on my deathbed, take my child’s hand, and admonish them to, “Go out there and win one for the Blipper.” I only pray that at that time they’ll know how.