Buried treasure has enthralled the human spirit since the beginning of time.  As a species we like to get something for nothing, we like to find things that are hidden, and we get excited by the very thought of finding something secret, something special.  Its hardwired into us at some molecular level.

History is full of examples, adventure seekers, some with lofty ideas, others with avarice infused spirits.  Treasure seekers, one and all.  Maybe it was god they were after — maybe it was land.  Either way, resistance was futile.

And so it was for me this last Sunday.  Keeping a six and a half year old boy entertained can be harder than you think when you eliminate television, video games and the computer. Eventually you know that at some point you will hear those words you dread…

“I’m bored Dad.  There is nothing to do.”

Ugg.  That’s right — Ugg.  Next to the often chanted “Are we there yet?” the boredom line is second on the list of patience building phrases our little bundles of joy utter that drive us crazy.

Well today I was ahead of the curve — I was ready.  I patiently waited for the statement to come, patience.. patience.  Now, you have to understand, as Father’s we are in a great many respects, nothing more than big kids (just ask our wives).  As such we like sit back and savor the sweet glow of delight that happens when we truly surprise another family member.

“Dad… I’m bored.  There is nothing to do.” Maverick said.  The time had come.

“Bored you say huh?  Hmmm… Well, its a nice day out, grab your shoes we are going on a hunt for Buried Treasure!” I say with giddy delight.

Its at this point during the flurry of excitement that I let my son know we are going to try our hands at Geo-caching.  Geo-caching is basically a big game of hide and seek.  Players take a container of some sort and hide it in random location.

To the rest of the world — they are no wiser.  To the geocacher with the caches longitude and latitude location, it offers a way to live out a Father and Son’s Buried Treasure Adventure.  When a cache is found, the log book is signed, a treasure is taken out and replaced by another.  Pretty cool concept to be honest.

So off we went, with what I thought was my elite entry level Garmin Nuvi automobile GPS.  You could feel the excitement in the air as we  reached our first destination.  With GPS held in front we navigated to our destination and… could not find the cache.

After consulting with my engineer friend Paul, I quickly learned that the automobile GPS devices are not really the best choice for geocaching.  Crap, there goes that budding activity.  But like so many other times, Paul has a unit that will fit the bill that he said I can borrow.

Until then, Maverick and I will be thinking of buried treasure and the adventures to come as Father & Son.

That’s really what I should do. What has me worried/somewhat distressed? My son’s interest in schoolwork, in particular reading and writing. Some of you know I have a largely useless degree in English, both in relation to my job (computer geek), and my writing (largely atrocious and riddled with errors). But I do love to read, and do so whenever I can.

This struggle mind you is in my head; on the outside I am nothing but supportive, calm and reassuring; on the inside I fight battles with myself over how I can best help him to learn. Over what things I can do to help him, and ways I can spark his interest in learning.

And what I realize is that its my own passion for reading that is fueling my desire for him to learn to read. I guess on some level I can’t wait for him to read. I loved to read as a child, and its something that I want to share with him.

Which is a great thing… but why is it driving me nuts? I guess it’s no different than potty training. It will happen in time, just don’t push it. The teachers in his school are on the ball, and he gets extra time with a reading teacher so he has the best that he can get with my tax money.

And I have to remind myself that he is six and his attention span is short. The truth of the matter, as it suddenly occurs to me while writing this is that I see his disinterest in studying as an echo of how I used to feel about schoolwork, and it worries me that he might end up having those same feelings.

In what can only be the wheel coming full circle I find myself thinking about cutting back on TV time and video games, yes.. I have become my parents. And it’s funny as hell.

This Friday is my son Maverick’s first day of kindergarten. I can hardly believe that he is six! It seems like yesterday that I was holding this little bundle of crying boy child in my arms and wondering what his life would be like. Wondering how I would be as a Father.

And now its six years later. We have had bumps, falls, bruises, laughter, crying, joy. We have changed disgusting diapers, smelled things no human should have to smell, and been more excited about potty training than any basketball/football or hockey championship.

We have watched his personality develop and taken pride in his good natured kindness to his friends, family and pets. I have cheered as he has embraced Star Wars, and shaken my head at his insistence on tucking in his shirt, no matter what type.

And now he is headed to kindergarten. Its the start of his school career, and in a way, the end of his innocence. There will be things I can’t shield him from, people who will take advantage of his good nature — slowly, slowly but surely, his innocence will start to be lost.

Its an odd thing to consider really. I love seeing him grow up, and hope that his school experience is more enjoyable than mine ever was. In retrospect I am so glad that we decided to wait until he was six to start kindergarten. He is so much more ready emotionally for school.

I used to dread going to school, and now I find myself dreading this Friday. I know in my head that time doesn’t stop for anyone, but in a selfish sort of way I kind of wish it could. I love him. He is the best thing that ever happened to us, and while I will smile and be excited for him, inside I will, and I know Karin will be sorry to see our baby go to school.