My Good Luck Charms...

What makes a good luck charm…well…good luck? How can you determine when it officially becomes a good luck charm? There are many things in life I won't be able to tell you and this is sadly one of them.

What I can tell you are about my three most favorite ones I've ever had. The first is in the video above you and his name was Mr. Joe Ades (aka "The greatest salesman in NYC history"). I came about getting to know Mr. Ades the time I found my last job I had in NYC. I was fresh out of a relationship as well as fresh off of losing my prior job of which I deeply loved (the job more than the girl). I was in a new part of town, and I couldn't have felt more out of place. The first day I planned out which subway to take and gave myself an extra 20 minutes in case I got lost (as you know your father isn't the best with directions). I got there in PLENTY of time so I thought I'd walk around the local market of Union Square. It was there, on the corner of 15th and Broadway, I saw Mr. Joe Ades doing his magic. As you can see in the video, he was quite great! I sat back and watch him engage the crowd and, at the finish, get a huge applause. Suddenly, I wasn't scared to go into work for the first time but was actually energized!

That’s how it was for me over the next two years. I got over the girl quickly and actually fell in love with the people and job. Every weekend, without fail, I'd see Mr. Joe do his work and realized I was about to have a good day. He became my first good luck charm of NYC.

After 2 years of the same routine, I started to notice I couldn't find Mr. Joe anywhere when I came to work. I would come early just to see if he was in a different booth but I could never find him. As soon as I found out my good luck charm had passed away was as soon as that job went sour. I quickly transferred away from Union Square and, once again, was without hope and a lucky charm to boot.

Then I met her. I was in a different bar in a different area of town and was back to trying to find my place in life. She came in one night and never left. I was smitten. The next couple of years were bliss. Your mother became more than a good luck charm, she became my heart. The ring on my finger that she gave me on November 10, 2012 became the greatest good luck charm I could ever ask for.

Finally, my last favorite good luck charm came a little over 3 months ago and has completely changed my life -- you! No matter how many times you wake us up crying, your countless number of times you seem to be hungry or when you just want to yell for yelling sake...you are our lucky charm. Little do you know but I've recently started to dress you in Mets gear before every game, and we haven't lost since!

So you may be wondering -- what's the point? I never knew Mr. Joe because I never spoke to him. I have long since told about my first lucky charm of NYC to various friends and family but only in my memories could I find him. That is until one Saturday afternoon when a miscellaneous link referenced him along with a video of him selling his famous peelers. There I was, holding you, lying beside your mother and hearing his voice through an old video.

As I heard his familiar voice once again, I teared up a little. The dreams I could only hope for all those years ago in that little part of NYC came true. The fact of the matter is I don't have to go to any random street fairs to find my lucky charm anymore -- I just have to go home, and for that I truly am the luckiest husband/dad in the whole world.

p.s. being your dad is awesome!