Inside the
Winter Issue:

Home Page

Growing Up
With Hunger

Fan Fare:
Randy Rossilli

Fan Fare:
SpoonWalk

Tulane, Too Soon

Journal Provides Eye Into
Food Banks’ Efforts in
Katrina’s Wake

Chapin Christmas CD
Is a Hit Throughout
The Seasons

“Doing Something”

Goat Tales

Chapin Family Marks
WHY’s 30th Anniversary
With Benefit Concerts
in New York City

Harry Chapin Celebration
Concert Review

Time to Remember

Letter to the Editor:
Elizabeth Paquette

Letter to the Editor:
Greg McCaig

Circle! Calendar

Goat Tales

by Bill Hornung

King of the Bathrobe

For most of us, life is a series of major milestones.

We’re born. Get a driver’s license. Fall into some career path that we never conceived possible. And, for aging balding guys, receive a bathrobe as a Christmas present.

Yep, I knew the day was nearing. I have achieved the goal of the Blue-Plaid Robe as of Christmas 2005.

Next milestone: Slippers and chocolate-flavored laxatives.

Now, as I go out in the morning to retrieve the newspaper, I will be recognized as an old you-know-what. The robe signals to the neighborhood kids not to mess with the geezer at the house on the corner. I’ve entered a whole new league of “old school.” This fills out the ensemble that includes my Barcalounger and an un-ending desire to play power ballads from the “hair bands” of the 80s… when music was “real.”

The robe also signals that my children no longer have a clue about what makes me tick. I can see them thinking…. “he only wears jeans and t-shirts, his primary hobby involves cleaning the garage, and he tears up when Dust in the Wind plays on the radio…. Hmmm, what should we get him for Christmas? That’s it… a bathrobe! He doesn’t have one of those.”

Nose-hair trimmers are definitely coming for my birthday.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my robe. It’s fashionably plain to complement my favorite color of gray. Being flashy for me involves wearing brown socks instead of my standard athletic white.

But how could my kids be so out of touch with my world? Where’s the public service announcement that goes…. “So, you can name three of your favorite rap artists. Now…. can you name three of your dad’s favorite cleaning products for wood, tile and carpet?”

Heck no, it’s all beyond them. They can’t even explain what I do for a living (but then neither can my wife, so we’ll let that one go for now). The point is I’ve entered that strange phase of being irrelevant to my kids… except for when they need money to go out with their friends.

I know they’ll come around in a few years when they start seeking advice about love, job opportunities and floor cleaning products. The appreciation and relevance will be symbolized as I start receiving keepsakes from the “good old days” that will come in the form of framed pictures of me when I had hair and drove a Pinto.

I do realize I’m pretty lucky to have made it so far in life that I’m honored with the gift of a bathrobe. Especially in comparison to the milestones that Artists Helping Children achieve every day to make life a little brighter and hopeful for children who’ve had a tough go of things due to sickness, abuse or neglect.

Artists Helping Children (AHC) provides rays of sunshine through murals on hospital walls, art programs and hand-made stuffed animals and toys. The simple belief is “art can heal” because creative activities foster rest, recreation and a release from the stress of a constant illness.

But it’s just not adults that make AHC thrive. A secondary goal is to get children helping children so the idea of making a difference starts at an early age. AHC provides guidance on everything from having a charity birthday party to sponsoring a community yard sale ­ all with goal of having a purpose as well as some fun.

AHC suggests that getting involved as a family is not only good for community, but it brings a family closer together. To that end, the organization provides ideas on how to even motivate some of the old fogies in the clan.

Particularly ones wearing bathrobes.

Watch for the Next Issue of Circle! on March 7