When I was in my rebellious teens, my Father would constantly be there to pull me out of some sort of trouble or another. But more importantly, later in life as I went through one of the darkest times in my life (my divorce), he was there for me whole heartedly. He gave me much needed emotional support and a helping hand as I needed it.

Basically, I don’t know where I’d be without my dad. Now that I am a single father and raising my child on my own, I try to live up to the role my father played in my life. If I can be half the father for my son that my dad was to me, I will feel blessed. So Happy Father’s Day, Dad! And always know that I appreciate the things you do!

Visit My Dad’s Website: AncientFootsteps.com

Last August, I had the wonderful opportunity to teach a fantastic group of kids. It reminded me just how much fun teaching and making art is for me. Easley First Baptist Church provided a wonderful week-long summer arts program for the children in our community. I volunteered to teach cartooning alongside an extremely talented group of creative people. These people came from many different creative disciplines, ranging from the visual arts, dance, music, and more.

In my class, students learned basic cartoon figure drawing techniques and each child ended the course with a cartoon or comic book character that he/she designed. We all had loads of fun!

I am very excited that our church is planning to offer the summer arts program again this year in August on the 2nd through the 5th. So for all of you with rising 2nd-6th grade kiddos who are interested in art be sure to sign-up!! If your child is interested in taking my cartooning class, please sign up EARLY, as I am told my class filled up very quickly last year. We had a lot of fun!!

In preparation for the big event, I bought the boxed set of A-Team episodes that I so enjoyed as a child and, together with my son, re-watched them all. I was surprised how well they held up. So many things from my childhood seem to fall short when I revisit them today. However, with the obvious exception of the 80’s production standards, the team did not disappoint. I had forgotten how well these actors “gelled together” on the show. So much so, that I honestly could not pick a favorite. Each character represents something that we all have in ourselves to some degree or another.

We finally got to see the movie on Saturday night, having heard so many negative things from the idiots [critics]. My son and I really enjoyed it. Did the actors have the same chemistry as the original cast? …No. But in a big screen remake they rarely do. I think that a vast majority of the critics that panned this movie were trying to view it as something its not. If you have watched and enjoyed the A-team series, chances are that you will enjoy this movie. If you’re looking for “Citizen Kane”… Not so much.

When we registered, we chose how our names would read on our badges. We went with a Stephen King motif. My son’s read “It the Clown” and mine read “Beep-Beep Ritchie”. Both are from King’s “It”.

We did manage to visit the Browncoats, which is a tradition for us each year. My son has gotten to “that age” where he doesn’t want me snapping pictures of him every few minutes. I did manage to get his pic with the Joker and Harley! After all, who could say “no” to good ol’ Mr. J? I also got his pic with a few characters from the Rocky Horror Picture Show. We had a great time, as usual, and are already planning to be there for the whole weekend again next year.

Bret with Mr. J and Harley.

Bret with Rocky Horror Picture Show Characters.

Partly in honor of our Wii’s homecoming, partly out of wanting to “pound” UPS for there bumbling ways, but mostly out of a selfish need to relive my childhood… I bought Punch-Out for the Wii. I can’t even imagine how many hours I wasted on this game as a child. Now, completely revisited for modern times, my son can get as frustrated as I was while trying to find the “secret tricks” to defeating these characters.

We put this game into our freshly repaired and returned Wii together and it was like I was a kid again. Yes, all of my old adversaries were there! Glass Joe, King Hippo, Soda Popinski, Bald Bull, and more were on hand to challenge my child as they had challenged me. Between each bout, Doc had his cryptic “words of wisdom” on how to beat each opponent. Of course they were faithfully mixed in amongst his announcing his love of chocolate and begging us to join the “Nintendo Fun… er, um… Club Nintendo”.

It is fun to watch Bret get so exasperated trying to figure out the “special trick” needed to beat each new contender. Just like Dad. Then I get to come in and finally show him a thing or two about how its done… Old school. Punch-Out is a welcome addition to our game library. It really is like an old friend coming to visit after many years. And best of all, after game after game of Bret humiliating me in Mario Super Sluggers, I can throw this game in and get some small measure of revenge.

Four Generations: Walter Davis (Photograph), Brenda Watson, Gregbo Watson, and Bret Watson.

I was fortunate enough to be asked by the fifth grade teachers at my child’s school to the classes about World War II. Why was I asked? My grandfather happened to be a German Prisoner of War. He was an amazing man that added so much to my life. Aside from being a loving grandfather, he was a phenomenal storyteller. Whenever I’m feeling low on creativity, I fondly remember how he could always imagine a story on demand, despite being tired from work, etc. Each story and every character was made up on the spot just to entertain me. His imagination was staggering.

The year before my son came into this world, my dear grandfather left it. My son would never have the chance to meet him, but would bear his name throughout his life. I’ve often tried to retell those whimsical stories in an effort to give my son a sense of the wonder my grandfather instilled in me. Even as a working creative, I feel I fell short. No one could tell those stories like the master himself. I was hoping that these stories would instill some type of bond between my son and my grandfather since they never met.

The bond happened naturally and in a far more magical way then I ever dreamed of. You see as part of my presentation, my grandmother loaned me my grandfathers POW flag. It was presented to him during a ceremony at Shaw Air Force base a few years before he died. It was ceremoniously folded by U.S. soldiers and handed to my grandmother “on behalf of a proud and grateful nation”. The only time it was unfolded again during my grandfather’s lifetime, was about a week before he passed. He unfolded it, admired it, and then ceremoniously refolded it by himself.

Bret and Gregbo Watson unfolding the flag.

During my presentation for my son’s class, I called my son up and asked him to be the one to unfold it. I have never seen him take anything so seriously. Out of the blue it hit me, the bond I wanted so desperately between these two very important people in my life was actually happening right before my eyes. The master was telling a story again; Across time, death, and generations. I have often times been saddened by the fact that these two would never meet. How wrong I was. My son and my grandfather were able to shake hands through the generations!

“For a while we pondered whether to take a vacation or get a divorce. We decided that a trip to Bermuda is over in two weeks, but a divorce is something you always have.“
– Woody Allen

Being a creative person, I have always chosen to live my life being open to the good, magical things in life… “Faith, Trust, Pixie Dust” and believe if each of us made an effort to retain even a minute bit of our child-like whimsy, the world would be a far better place. The past two years have drained me profoundly… Both emotionally and creatively. I was flung far from my sanctuary of creativity and put face-to-face with the ugly side of this world. Four hundred percent of my time was spent wresting custody of my child from someone I had once loved deeply. Standing up for my child against his “mother” was both the most important thing and the saddest thing I have ever had to do. But it was the right thing. Now that the divorce has been finalized and sole custody been awarded to me, I have to refuel my creativity in the absence of faith and trust and press onward.

“We have done the impossible, and that makes us mighty.“
– Captain Mal Reynolds (Firefly/Serenity) 

I do not intend to dwell upon or further write about this time in my life in future posts, nor do I intend to demonize the mother of my child. I hope she finds herself, heals, and can one day slay enough of her demons so that she can attempt to rebuild the relationship she destroyed with our child. My focus is on my son and (finally!!) my creative work, and I plan to put every passionate fiber of my being into both.