The Show Pony

Captain Adam and The Pole Dancer moored at the Straits Marina in Mackinaw City, MI.

Once upon a time, there were three small children whose mother loved them equally and unconditionally.  Jak was the oldest followed two and a half years later by Adam followed four years later by Jennifer.   HOWEVER, as time went on, these little angelic beings created an alternative universe for themselves.  It happened innocently, and when it happened, it stuck.   It stuck not because it was true, but because it was funny.

Jennifer on her 1st Birthday, Swimming Lessons for Jak at 6 mos., A Nautical Theme for Captain Adam at 3 mos.!

Their father, John, ran for United States Congress in 2010.  The entire year was a blur.  John and I felt a calling, as patriots, to give up our personal lives to go to Washington D.C. to serve and save our country as farmers once did when our republic was founded.  The scope of the campaign was massive and our children became involved in every aspect.  There were speeches, rallies, door-to-door knocking, signs to be placed, and many public appearances.

One day, toward the end of the run,  Adam got a wild burr up his butt when I asked him and his sister to dress up and be present at another one of our events.  He shot Jennifer his signature grin, looked me right in the eye, and snorted, “Nope.  I’m tired of being your Show Pony.”

Jennifer gasped–then the light bulb came on–her chance to grease the wheels and work Mom over good.  She faced  Adam and said, “Well, if you’re the Show Pony then Jak is the Stallion.  I guess that makes me the Donkey.”   We all busted out laughing.  Jennifer had been the work horse behind the scenes, scheduling events, answering calls at campaign headquarters, video taping speeches, walking in parades, and handling all the grunt work with poise and professionalism.  Adam was running the farm and our Subway Restaurants so he was already tapped out each time we would ask him to spruce up and show up.  Our son, John a.k.a  Jak, was working and living in New York so his siblings felt that he got a “Get Out of Jail Free” card, having only to show his support through phone calls and emails.  It was one of those spur of the moment family funnies that will live in infamy.

To this day, Adam remains my Show Pony.  He is the one with the flash and the quick wit.  He does eveything big:  boats, trucks, and tractors.   He has my father’s sense of timing, his invention, and his creativity.  I recall the scene from Apollo 13 when the space capsule was freezing cold and the astronauts were in peril as Americans sat frozen in horror waiting for mission news.  Jim Lovell’s mother, Blanche, had this exchange:

The 2010 campaign was the best of times, it was the best of times.  As a family we have never worked harder for something or had more fun doing it.  It was an honor to hold the public trust for even a short while.   As the results poured in on that November 2010 election night (we ran on the Republican ticket in a 70 percent Democratic district against a 30+ year incumbent) we finished 4 points short.  In all other races, in all previous years, the Republican candidate never came within 36 points of taking the seat.  There were no losers that year.  When you give all you have with all you’ve got–and grow friendships and faith along the way–then the experience ends with getting more than you gave.

Our Sweet Little Jennifer-Bennifer, all grown up.