When a father looks down on his offspring, how often does he find himself reminiscing on his childhood, because he sees himself in his son? Bret Lott does it often. "That pinch was entry into our childhood: my arm around him, our smiling, is the proof of us two surfacing, alive but not unscathed . And here are my own two boys, already embarked" (pg. 32). This is the first, of many situations in the book when Bret portrays the footsteps of him and his brother being walked by his own sons, Zeb and Jacob. Jacob had just accidently slammed Zeb's fingers in the car door. This sent Lott's mind racing to the past to a time when his brother Brad had first pinched him by a pool one day. It is interesting because Jacob and Zeb are unaware of the similar situation they had just partaken in. They are already walking in the footsteps of their father without knowing it. One of the biggest examples of this phenomenon is when Lott overhears Zeb whispering to Jacob. ""Jake, don't tell Dad," Zeb whispered, and it seemed Swear to God you won't tell ought to be the next words I would hear" (pg. 163). He associates these words directly with the memory of his older brother Brad always telling him not to tell his parents something he did. A direct example of Lott watching his sons follow in the footsteps of him and his brother. Even the role of youngest and oldest correspond to each other."Jacob is me, just trying to make my way in the wake, for better or worse, of big brother Brad." (pg. 160)
Lott's sons aren't the only ones following in the footsteps of their father. In the chapter "Uncle", Bret describes the relationship of his Uncle Lynn to his father. "His tongue naturally stuck, and it had been my Uncle who had discovered him in the freezer crying, Lynn laughing a good five minutes or so before he went to get warm water" (pg. 57). Obviously his Uncle wasn't very concerned over the issue of his Dad's well being. The same lack of concern is displayed by Lott's older brother Brad. "But Brad only stood there, the basketball by his hip, while the kid sat on my arms and punched me in the chest" (pg. 155). Once again, the oldest in the two sets of brothers are following in each others footsteps. The youngest, falling victim to the carelessness of their older brother. Is this trait reoccurring only in the Lott family, or families all over the world? Whatever the answer may be, it's obvious that Lott's family has a habit being more similar than they would like, or care to acknowledge.
Lott's life probably has the most in common with his dads, especially when revolved around the company of RC cola. ""Bill used to by my salesman," he said, and looked down, hands still on the glass, head still shaking." (pg. 181) This to me is the most powerful evidence in the book of following in the footsteps of the men before you. Out of all the different paths Lott tried to take in his life, he ended up for a brief time period doing the same exact thing as his father, even selling products to the same exact person his father used to. Lott followed in his fathers footsteps even to the point of something as little as what to keep in his garage. "Thats it for my tools. Like father, like son." (pg. 10) The real question is how things work out to be so similar between generations. How much of it is consciously done by the father? How much of it is pure chance? Lott does describe instances where he, and his father, tried to distill some quality's they had into their sons. Lott recognized this as his fathers intention."And I have no doubt he imagined for us, later in our lives, careers with the company." (pg. 183) Fathers definitely have a huge impact on how their sons turn out. If a son is following in his fathers footsteps, and is old enough to see how, I think it's a result of taking in the habits his father has. This transformation happens unconsciously at a younger age though. Until it reaches a peak and we can sit back and realize how much the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Those are my thoughts on the subject. However, this isn't about me. Lott doesn't really give a direct opinion on the cause of this trend between fathers, sons, and brothers. What he does do, it take it all in, and enjoy it to the fullest. Something we should all stop to do once and awhile. If Lott didn't take these moments in and analyze how they intertwine with each other, I believe this book wouldn't have been the great book it's considered today. As a younger generation with many negative stereotypes, maybe we should stop to see who's footsteps we are following in, and who's footsteps we should be.
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