I had a day off with my older son, Cary. We wandered around Oak Park a little bit and finally found our way to Val's Halla... an old, institution of a record store in said suburb; you Chicago folks probably know it, or have at least heard of it?

Anyway, he went nuts. He was asking Val all kinds of questions about music and the history of the store. He was checking out CDs and LPs from his favorite bands and was pawing through the stacks like the drooling little budding music geek that he is.

When he saw a poster and asked me, "Who is Miles Davis?" I knew that I needed to correct that and immediately picked up the remaster of Kind of Blue. (I haven't been able to play my vinyl since he blew out my stereo when he was 2.)

We left the store and he was beaming, holding his new live Green Day CD/DVD and greedily reading the (admittedly skimpy) liner notes as he walked.

"This is awesome! Thanks, Dad! Can we go back with Mom and Ethan?"

this is great... so it begins.

I'm looking forward to this, but I have this recurring nightmare that he/she picks up Collective Soul or Antony & The Johnsons or Animal Collective or some shit, and I have to decide about a late adoption.

oh, you mean your kid might actually have eclectic taste in music?

dear god, no!

great story Todd. Can't wait for Sébastian to start enjoying my collection.

best day ever.

The new album by The Shaken Baby Syndrome is transcendent.

If "eclecticism" means blowing loads over awful, awful music, it will be neither encouraged nor tolerated.


Gagortion.

A filthy expensive habit where you have to hang out with the dregs of society to get your fix. Way to go.

oh dear, he's on his way then...

How's that awesome tat coming?

Well then you can rejoice when he is a big fan of Linkin Park, Creed, and Nickelback.

i'm pretty sure Cap'n likes and owns cd's from at least 2 of those artists.

oh jesus christ no. How does that logic work?

My boy will not need to shop because of the size of my cd collection. I've got more than most stores anyway.

Instead of taking him to the store, he should be out mowing lawns to pay for the stereo he blew up

Then take him record shopping.

Hey, check your PMs already!

great story, todd! one of my (few) fond memories of my dad was him taking me to the record store as a kid (as chronicled in my geek love column)