Workaholic

Some kids have an imaginary friend.  Mine has an imaginary job.

Jake’s “work” has become a daily reference.  As you may know, his work was originally headquartered in Santa Cruz.  Over the course of 2012, there has been an extensive expansion… perhaps the strategists behind Starbucks have been hired-on?  I’m aware of numerous field offices that have popped-up around the Bay Area, inland, and in the keystone state.

You wouldn’t believe the things he has at his work.  I’m thinking we need to start an official list.  There are giraffes and horses at his work, in addition to his puppies.  His puppies, I may add, are pilots.  They are trained and equipped to fly jets, helicopters, and your standard rocketship.  He has a cement mixer, green race car, green boat, bicycles, ladders, buckets, TV’s, chocolate birthday cakes, balloons, and any tool your heart desires.  Just this weekend he mentioned he smelled dinosaurs at his work.  And then he found a dinosaur egg and a little baby dinosaur hatched, “It was so cute.”  Then his crows flew down but they didn’t peck it.  They are nice crows.

Maybe James and I have unknowingly made work sound infinitely more desirable than any job could possibly be?  Have we fallen into the trap that my Spanish college roommates cautioned?  “In America you live to work, in Spain, we work to live.”  I diplomatically did not call attention to the Spaniard working day and night at his 24-hour internet cafe, raking in his millions…

My friend Emily pointed out that work must be great… why else would we choose to go there, rather than spend the whole day with Jakey?  Emily has always been wise beyond her years.

On occasion, James will pick Jacob up at school and he will insist that he be driven to his work.  If there is a moment’s hesitation, he melts into an angry puddle of tears.  “Take me to my work!!!!”  I have a sneaking suspicion those are the days that the boys all drink chocolate milkshakes from the MickeyD’s drive-thru.  Just as long as he doesn’t end-up flipping burgers, this seems like the only possible alternative to driving aimlessly… or would we?