Tow trucks and other simple pleasures

We lucked out this weekend: the loaner car given to us by the repair shop while our car was being fixed got a flat tire. It happened while Dave and Max were out, not far from the house, so they were able to make it back OK.

Flats are typically not considered fun. But they are when you're Max and a tow truck comes to your house to get the car—and you. Yep, he got to watch the car being loaded onto the flatbed. Then Max and Dave got a ride back to the shop, where our car was ready to go. 

It was exciting for Dave and me, too: Keeping Max entertained is our full-time weekend job. "Where are we going next Saturday?" he starts asking on Mondays. "And Sunday?"  

This is a good thing. A a kid, Max was hesitant to go anywhere; now, he wants to go everywhere. He likes going to science museums, shows and malls, along with street fairs when the weather is warm. Yet he is also quite content to roam around our town, the supermarket and Target. Stopping by the fire station is his idea of a great time. A train ride just for fun: Bring it.

Lately, Max is super-interested in going out for burgers. He went to Smashburger with his class this week, and then he insisted we eat there over the weekend. He is the only person I know who takes joy trips to Home Depot; he's been picking out appliances for his dream home in Jamaica.

I'd say it is a gift to be able to appreciate the simple pleasures in life. How many teens are too jaded to do so? How many of us are too busy to enjoy an outing without a purpose? (Furnishing a fantasy home aside.) How many teens and adults alike are too preoccupied with their iPhones to appreciate what's going on around them?

Not Max. He is out there having the time of his life eating samples at Costco. And his joy is infectious. When he went up to the counter and ordered his burger and avocado on Saturday, he was downright gleeful. "Wow, he is really happy to be here!" the cashier noted, and Max was. 

Max has long been fascinated by tow trucks. When he was little, he used to tell us that he'd like for a tow truck to come and take Daddy's car away, which more or less happened this weekend. One more thing scratched off his bucket list.