In most circles, that phrase means that you get intoxicated easily...but for us, it means that you embrace all things ugly. In essence, you are intoxicated by cheap humor.
Enter Neil LeBaron: the original cheap date. When we were little kids, he used to sit in the dark behind the couch and wait until we were half an hour into a movie before jumping up behind us and scaring the Jehoshaphat out of us.
From cheap college/mission pranks to an unhealthy obsession with videos that showcase people getting hurt, dad personifies all things cheap date—and has given each of his children the same gift (much to our spouse's dismay).
Six years ago, Krista and I bought a little shih-tzu named Coco. For the last six years—from Brooklyn to The Bay Area, every time Dad sees Coco, he goes searching for one of the many ragged, stuffed rats, mice, bears, or snakes he has given her over the years to see if she'll tear into it with unabashed fury.
When he came to our apartment in Brooklyn in 2006, we was entertained for hours on end throwing the mouse back and forth across the apartment, listening to the cadence of her claws across the wood as she slid to and fro punishing the mouse with her 8-pound frame. I pity the neighbors below us.
This clip is for you dad. I love you. And I love that you're a cheap date. Enjoy.
Yes, we are a family of cheap dates and proud of it. I also love scaring my children (and husband for that matter).
ReplyDeleteIt was not only his CHILDREN he loved scaring. One very early morning in Canada, when Nanny was sleepily walking down the hall to get breakfast ready before early-morning seminary, Neil reached out of a hall closet and grabbed her by the shoulder. We were all very nearly premature orphans!!
ReplyDeleteAnd, it is not only HIS children he loved scaring. He practiced on Jodi. When she was only two, he came to our door a few days before Halloween, rang the bell, and when Jodi happily ran to answer it, there was Neil wearing a gorilla mask!! She climbed right up me like I was a rock climbing wall. If she needs counseling some time in her life for a weird phobia that involves apes, I'm sending the bill to my dear brother!!