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April 28, 2012 by Dave Knadler

jessie knadler at party for rurally screwed in lexington, virginia

That's my girl.

Where was I? Oh yeah. We spent last weekend in Lexington, Va., where my daughter Jessie and my excellent son-in-law Jake live. Jessie put on a party to celebrate the publication of her book, Rurally Screwed: My Life Off the Grid with the Cowboy I Love. At this party, I met a lot of people but never really had to give out my real name. I found “Jessie’s Dad” to be about all the identification necessary.

This is what happens when the fates conspire to give you funny, talented and engaging kids despite all your efforts to screw them up. You find yourself at the edge of the room, smiling benignly when people come up and act like just because your offspring are cool, you must be too.

Just between you and me: It doesn’t work like that — as Jessie’s Lexington friends discovered. But I’m happy to bask in reflected glory, and take credit where none is due. This book could make Jessie moderately famous. While the writer in me struggles with a minor twinge of envy now and then, the dad in me is just as pleased as punch. At this point I’m hoping she’ll become just famous enough to buy me a new car.

Kidding. The Subaru’s running fine. And realistically, it’ll probably take a couple more books and an appearance on Oprah before Jessie gets into major car-buying mode. In the meantime, a dad can be proud of his kids, and dispense cheap advice about where to go from here. (Tip One: No reality shows. Ever.) When you’re a parent, you can never stop acting like one. Even after your kids have proven themselves immune to your wisdom.

I have three kids. We tried to raise them all the same, but each one is unique. The thing I’m most proud of is that each is smarter and funnier and braver than I am, which are my main criteria for evaluating people. Beyond that, the one trait they most have in common is that they’re all pretty good writers. I’m not sure how a love of words and a way with them can be inherited, but that’s my story. And I’m sticking to it.

More along these lines:

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Filed Under: Me, Writing

About Dave Knadler

Obscure writer. Lazy photographer. Bashful guitarist. Perhaps too fond of wine. Tireless nemesis of New York Times crosswords.

Comments

  1. Joan says

    April 29, 2012 at 6:40 pm

    Welcome back, Dave. I’ve missed your posts. You should visit Virginia more often. I agree that talent seems to run in your family, at least as far as you and Jessie. Maybe you could tell us something about the rest of the family. And get back to work on that fiction!

    • Dave Knadler says

      April 30, 2012 at 10:16 am

      Thanks, Joan. I’d live in Virginia if I could.

  2. deb says

    April 30, 2012 at 7:41 am

    Congratulations! I thought Jessie’s book was a great read and I really enjoyed the story and her writing style. As a parent, I say —-bask in that glory!

    • Dave Knadler says

      April 30, 2012 at 10:16 am

      Yes, I’m quite good at basking.

  3. John H. says

    April 30, 2012 at 1:38 pm

    Congrats to you both!

Trackbacks

  1. Reviews are finally starting to trickle in says:
    April 30, 2012 at 11:53 am

    […] Dave’s Fiction Warehouse  Okay, it’s my dad….he’s genetically obligated to like my book, but I’m still including it because validation from him means a lot! […]

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