Skateboard Dreams

January 25, 2026 Poet: Peter Finkle Artwork: Skateboarders by Stanley Smith

Skateboard Dreams

1.

Father - Son trip to Europe

2001

I dream of Art in Paris,

Gaudi architecture in Barcelona,

Roman ruins in Aix-en-Provence, France,

Showing Mathew where I once lived in Torino.

Mathew dreams of

Skateboarding in Paris,

Skateboarding in Barcelona,

Skateboarding in Aix,

Skateboarding in Torino.

2.

Fast forward to an aerial view of Aix-en-Provence.

"Hey Pa," came the excited voice

of my almost-16 son,

as I picked up the phone in our hotel room.

"I met two brothers at the local skateboard park,"

his words came tumbling out.

"I'm at their house playing video games.

Their mom just invited me for dinner

and to stay with them a couple days.

Can I please - please - PLEASE!?

3.

Fast forward to Dad-thoughts music in background...

Hmm

Teenage boys

Skateboarders

What could go wrong?

Vacation in France

Adventure? -- Yes Danger? - Maybe

But, I think to myself...

At my son's age,

I bicycled with a buddy for weeks in France,

5,000 miles away from my parents

So, I say to my son...

"Okay, YES, if you'll put their mother on the

phone."

4.

Fast forward through night to two days of

three teens absorbed in uncountable kick-flips

at the skate park,

romping in blue water under the Mediterranean sky,

huddled in boys' bedroom playing Tony Hawk video

games,

eating huge portions of mom's home-cooked French food.

5.

On the train to our final stop in Torino,

I relaxed,

as my happy, exhausted son dozed,

both of us reveling in dreams fulfilled.