Last night after band practice, Teen Spirit came home with a bag of popsicle sticks and an assignment from his math teacher to create an 8 inch bridge using triangles.

He was super excited about the project and had even worked on it at school until they ran out of glue for the glue gun.

"We have  a glue gun, right? Cause I need to finish my bridge projet tonight," TS said as he came in the door.

Be supportive I whispered to Hepcat. This project really has TS turned on.

Hepcat who grew up with engineers on a farm in Northern California perked up as soon as Teen Spirit mentioned it. But he was dubious about TS’s initial approach.

Be supportive, I whispered.

He asked some helpful questions. I feared he might crush TS’s enthusiasm. Parents can do that. TS explained where he got the idea to use triangles.

"It was on our cross-country trip. Whenever we drove over bridges you explained to me that triangles are a very strong shape," he said

I could tell they were going to bond big time over this construction project. Not only was TS involved in a project right up Hepcat’s alley. He remembered something Hepcat told him five years ago in a car

The project progressed. A new plan was devised. The bridge needed torsion. Engineering terms were bandied about. Glue had to be borrowed from Mr. Kravitz downstairs. OSFO got involved. George Bush spoke on national television about sending more troops to Iraq.

"If there’s a draft let’s all move," Teen Spirit said. He’s less than three years from soldier age.
"We’ll go to Canada," I said.
"Why Canada? That’s always the cliche. How about Europe?" TS said. 

The family sat together as this bridge was built. Hepcat called Bush’s speech "gibberish." It was a sobering thought that there are soldiers in Iraq just two and half years older than Teen Spirit. So many have died. My heart ached for the American and Iraqi families, who have lost their children. The president said to expect more casualties.

For what? I thought to myself.

It’s a colorful thing this popsicle stick bridge. Hepcat was supportive — he probably did too much of the work but hey. Even OSFO applied some glue. When it was completed, three heavy books were placed on top to prove that it was strong (the teacher asked that it be able to support the math textbook)

TS looked stunned, pleased, proud of his bridge. Father and son proceeded to the couch to watch "The Knights of Prosperity," a new show on Fox 5.