My parents brought back some art from India. They gave me a nice image from Dharmsala of a mandala. And kept an even nicer one for themselves.

Looking at the newly framed image on the wall:

Me: Dad, can I have this?

Dad: No.

Me: Gah… I want it.

Dad: Tough shit. You can have it when I’m dead.

Dad, the life-long atheist, sitting in front of the computer after doing a Google search:

Dad: There’s one other Michael Valdenstein in the country, and he’s an evangelical preacher.

Me: That’s ironic…

Dad: He’s tried to get in touch with me, saying, “oh, are we related?” Ugh…. I need to change my name now.

Me: What are you going to change it to?

Dad: Michael Goddamn Valdenstein.