THE ULTIMATE FATHER’S DAY!

Wow! I am so blessed!

I have two great kids, Jenna and Bobby, who (along with our Doberman pup Prince) woke me up this morning in our Huntsville, Alabama home in The Ledges with the booming, brassy music of a marching band blasting from the Totem Acoustic ceiling speakers immediately above the bed, just as the shades automatically opened fully and the tunable lighting adjusted to its brightest setting. They pulled off the comforter and jumped on top of me while covering me with lots of slobbery kisses and shouting “Happy Father’s Day, Daddy!” (Well, actually, we haven’t taught Prince to talk yet, but he made up for it with his very sharp and ear-splitting bark and excessive slobbers). And, of course, my wife Charlotte was capturing it all on video.

I finally convinced them that I would be downstairs in time for my special breakfast of waffles, maple syrup, bacon and Starbucks coffee at 8 AM – I just needed a quick shower first. They decided to trust me and left me alone while they returned to the kitchen to put the finishing touches (lots of whipped cream, sprinkles and strawberries) on my special meal.

As they left, I slumped back into my comfy bed with a big smile on my face and a thankful heart - but the aroma of bacon soon prompted me to get up. Being fortunate enough to live in a Crestron® smart home integrated with Josh.ai®, I simply sat up and said, “Jervis, kill that band music and start my morning shower routine.”

Immediately, the shades and lighting automatically adjusted to match the circadian rhythm of natural outdoor light, which allowed my body to awaken more naturally. In that same instant, the room temperature and humidity level in the adjacent bathroom were automatically set to levels tailored to my preferences, as was the water temperature for my shower. And the “Rockin’ Out” tunes of Aerosmith added into the mix to rev up my excitement for the day.

Arriving on our covered patio at 8 AM on the dot, I was greeted with a balloon drop and the shouting trumpets of “Gonna Fly Now” from the movie “Rocky,” both of which were triggered automatically as I entered the room, thanks to smart sensors and a Crestron Home Quick Action that Charlotte had set up for the event. After hugs all around, I noticed two extra place settings on the table and was about to ask who else was coming when my dad and his fiancée stepped onto the patio.  I had surprised dad with an early Father’s Day gift – a completely refurbished Beechcraft King Air turboprop – and he convinced Linda that they should fly down from North Carolina to thank me for it. That was another “Wow! I am so blessed!” moment!

After lots of laughter, reminiscences, and a truly belly-bloating meal, I finally disengaged myself from my chair, and stretched for the ceiling to help my digestive processes function.  “Hey, Pop,” I said, “How about a brisk walk around the property before we all hit the pool for fun and games?” 

“Sounds great,” he said, “but after that I want to take you for a spin in the Beechcraft. I’d like to see Huntsville and Guntersville Lake from the air.”

“All fine and good,” said Charlotte, “just keep in mind that we’re having a barbecue for dinner at 5. Don’t be late!”

“We promise,” I said. “Jervis, prep for a pool party starting in 30 minutes.”

“As you wish,” Jervis replied.

Returning from our walk, Dad and I quickly changed into our trunks and met the family at the pool.  Jervis had everything set perfectly, from the water temperature, to Philips Hue tunable lighting pulsing a rainbow of colors, to the beat of the tunes on my favorite party playlist, to memorable family videos playing on the SunBrite Outdoor TVs at each end of the pool. We enjoyed several hours of Marco Polo, Pool Tag, and Treasure Hunt with the kids before embarking on our Father-Son Sky Tour over Huntsville and the Guntersville Lake area, racking up a rare camaraderie unlike any we had shared before. “Wow! I am so blessed!” was all I could think about as we headed back west to the hanger at Huntsville International Airport.

We arrived back at the house just as a Chevy Suburban pulled up in the driveway, spilling out six kids of all ages who made a beeline for the front door. A man dressed in full Air Force blues stepped out of the drivers side door and flashed a huge grin my way – but I didn’t recognize him at first. “Marilyn, take my arm,” he said to a woman who had just exited the passenger side door. Then it hit me – this was my estranged big brother, Jim, who neither I nor my dad had seen or heard from in over fifteen years. It seems that Charlotte had independently decided that this Father’s Day was the perfect occasion to “bury the hatchet.”

Meanwhile, Jim and Marilyn’s brood had triggered our DoorBird video doorbell, shouting, “We’re here, we’re here!” in unison. Charlotte had set Crestron Home/Josh.ai to recognize each of their faces, and they rambunctiously flooded into the foyer when the door automatically popped open. Charlotte, Jenna, Bobby, and Linda (along with Prince, of course) welcomed them with open arms and lots of hugs.

Although taken aback and wondering how this was all going to work out, Dad and I obligingly followed the crowd into the foyer, and each of us shook hands with Jim as he proceeded to introduce us to his wife and each of their kids.  All the while, my precious soulmate Charlotte smiled at me knowingly with a “behave yourself” look.

Then she said, “Jenna and Bobby, please show your cousins to their rooms, and teach them how to talk to Jervis and use the Crestron Touchscreens.”  All eight kids immediately scrambled up the staircase as overhead lighting automatically illuminated to guide their way. Turning to me and my dad, she commanded, “And the two of you please carry in their luggage.”

Marilyn immediately chimed in, “Jim, I know that you’re anxious to help them out.”

At that moment, it was glaringly obvious that Charlotte, Linda, and Marilyn had been conspiring for months to make this improbable reunion happen. And they had pulled it off splendidly.  We three dads had no choice but to play along. So we put on our happy faces and carried out our marching orders congenially, making two round trips in the elevator together with ten pieces of luggage, managing to crack a few jokes along the way to ease the tension.

We spent a few minutes helping the kids stow their luggage and do a bit of unpacking before Charlotte’s sweet voice came across the Crestron paging system, “Drinks and hors d’oeuvres are now being served on the North Patio. Just before sunset, we will make our way to the outdoor dining area on the western ledge of the property for a stunning view of Huntsville in the valley below and a dinner of grilled steak, shrimp, and chicken with all the “fixins” to boot. At around 9 PM, everyone is invited to our Home Theater in the First Floor East Wing for drinks, dessert and the movie ‘Black Panther.’ Or you can move to the media lounge at that time to watch ‘Finding Nemo’ instead.”

By midnight, all of that food coupled with multiple rounds of drinks and the chaotic positivity of a houseful of kids left us three dads in a mood for silence, and we made our way to the rooftop balcony for a bit of solitude and stargazing.  Of course, you know what happened – we talked until dawn, exploring our former differences from an older and wiser perspective and making peace for the good of our families. Wow! We are so blessed!

AV Enthusiast is your go-to A/V integrator for all of your Audio-Video  and Home Automation projects! Give us a call today at 256.882.5081 to schedule a consultation or drop by our showroom at 514 Madison Street in Huntsville, Alabama, Monday – Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM or Saturday from 10 AM to 3 PM.

We look forward to meeting you!