"One look at that little face and I was convinced that it was all about him.  Whatever it takes to raise this boy to a man, that’s what I’ll do.  Sacrifice.  Be there. Tough love.  Set an example.  Open up a can of whoop ass..."

The Day My Cool Stopped
Written by Vernon R. Heard

Oddly, I take my writing inspiration from some of the most abstract things in my day-to-day life.  I heard my son laughing at a sarcastic comment I made about my “cool ensemble” I was rocking that day of a Morehouse hoodie and basic basketball shorts and shower shoes.  I slowly realized he was laughing at me as well as with me.  I looked him up and down and he’s rocking the hot, new distressed skinny jeans, Chinese print hoodie, a matching fisherman’s cap, white on white Jordans and a silver Jesus piece necklace.  I had to let him know.. “For your information, I dress like this so you can dress like that, buddy.  I used to BE you!!  You’re now looking at yourself when you get to be my age because you will sacrifice for your kids the way I sacrifice for you. Soooo.. instead of laughing you’d better be thanking me for abandoning my previous swag or YOU’D be the one rocking the hoodie and basketball shorts and shower shoes.  Because I can pay for mine.. can you?”

 

Next thing I know I’m looking through some old pics, getting my Throwback Thursday uploads ready.  I was really taken back by some of them.  Back in the 80’s and 90’s… man, those were the days!!  Clubbing with my girl and my brother Kevin and running my recording studio in L.A...  doing music and singing and rapping and playing bass.  Good times.

 

Back then I used to dress nice ALL the time.  Stayed fly.  Those were my Cross Colors days; my sports coat and tie days; slacks and church shoes on a Wednesday days.  Back in the Oak Tree men’s store days when I worked there just for the clothes budget.  I’m still mad cool on the inside but “The Me Show” has come to a close. Final season, early 2000s.  I can remember the exact day when the cool stopped.  May 7, 2001.  My son was born and the coolness brake shoes were applied almost immediately.  That was the day my son’s cool was born, he just didn’t know it yet. 

One look at that little face and I was convinced that it was all about him.  Whatever it takes to raise this boy to a man, that’s what I’ll do.  Sacrifice.  Be there. Tough love.  Set an example.  Open up a can of whoop ass.  Hopefully that’s what I’ve done; all of these things.  Hopefully he is conscious of his direction and destiny.  Well, maybe not at 14.  I know it won’t be a flawless process but he will be a good man if I have anything to do with it.

 

So hell yeah, I took the step out of the limelight and handed all the cool benefits over to the boy.  Now making sure this kid has what he needs (and a few things he doesn’t) is job one. Now his Instagram is popping with all the fly clothes from H&M and Footlocker and numerous online retail spots.  Now dude has all the football equipment, mouth guards, cleats, football camps and locker fees.  Now he’s rocking the Jordans and gets the weekly haircut (like Kordell Stewart) with the tinted tips.  You know.. fly ish.  Like I used to do.