I was walking up Madison Avenue behind musician, Ric Ocasek of the 80s band The Cars along with his teenage son. I’ve seen them in the neighborhood before, weaving in and out of stores jumping back into their shiny black SUV. He’s married to former Russian model Paulina Porizkova and I believe this was one of their kids. He was married twice before siring 2 boys each time for the grand total of 6. Just think, 3 more and he’d have his own ball team.
What caught my eye was how much the boy resembled his dad body wise. Ocasek is tall and very, very lean even now as a man strumming through his 60s. The boy has his identical frame so from the back you know at once they’re related. His mother is tall as well but has more of an ample, curvaceous build as I recall.
Made me think about who I look like and what physical traits I’ve inherited. My mother used to say I had my grandfather’s feet since I’ve always had trouble with them even as a kid. I loved him so much that I was more than happy to hear this. Love is blind, even when it comes to ingrown toenails.
I have my mom’s legs and my father’s curly hair, happy I didn’t get his chubby ones and her straight strands that started to fall out once she hit 50. My hairdresser likes to say, mine grows like the lawn so it needs mowing often (just like my dads).
I also got my father’s nose, another grace since my mother’s was a trifle large. That gene pool that I envision like a Hamilton Beach mixer, was very kind to me.
As I strolled a good three more blocks behind the Ocaseks, right before they turned toward their car, the boy tenderly hooked his arm through his dad’s.
That sweet gesture made me go home and listen to Shake it Up on iTunes.
Ric may have been married 3 times but he clearly finally got it right since he and Paulina have been together for 20 years.
Uh well, dance all night play all day
Don’t let nothin’ get in the way
Dance all night keep the beat
Don’t you worry ’bout two left feet
Shake it up
Shake it up, oo yeah
Shake it up
Way to go Ric!
SB
Interesting post on a very interesting subject, Susannah. The physical traits are only a tiny fraction of what we inherit, of course. It’s entertaining to imagine what else there might be.
On a rather tenuously similar subject, did you see the news that the bones found under a carpark (parking lot) in Leicester have been confirmed as beloinging to Richard III? One wag pointed out that “richard the third” is rhyming slang for what we usually find lying in Leicester’s carparks.
I am fascinated about the Richard III big dig. All the New York papers had pictures of his lopsided spine. Apparently his men buried him in a hurry so his body wouldn’t be desecrated. How thoughtful was that.
Yeah, I find DNA very interesting. Does Smudge have your legs. Who does she get her athletic streak from? Does she write in her spare time like you do…just wonderin
Smudge is definitely cast from Maeve’s mould: skinny ribs, anxious to please, and chickeny. She takes after me for vocabulary but she can’t get her paw around the pencil.
Give her time
Oh my goodness, a teen in his 60s?? Well, sounds like he’s doing it right. How nice to hear some of these celebs are in fact decent human beings.
Nature was not as kind to me in the genes department. I got my dad’s mom’s short legs, still haven’t figured out whose nose I got (doesn’t resemble either parent’s). Oh well, whaddya gonna do?
Yeah, they look like such great pals he and his son. It’s sweet to see. Who had the brains that you’ve inherited? That’s what I’d like to know. You’re so bright…and don’t say it was just one of those things
Ric had an interesting stature to say the least. I liked the Cars. great band. Terrible in concert however.
Never saw them play. I always wonder when I see him, what he’s doing. Maybe producing. He’s seems very content in any event.