Chess

I opened the door to my local Panera Bread, where I was planning to pick up some coffee. The first thing I saw was two dads in their 40s with two sons who looked like they were somewhere between 8 and 10 years old. They had pushed two tables together, and both dads sat on the booth side while both sons faced them in chairs. Between each dad and son was a chessboard.

Two dads, two sons, two chessboards, two ongoing games.

This was about friendship, strategy, intellect, and fun. I love seeing dads spending time with one another and with their children. And I love that it isn’t only and always about sports. Here they were, sitting across from their sons, thinking and playing together.

There are many ways to be dads. There are many ways to be sons. There are many ways to be masculine. There are many ways to be human.

I love that.

Just a lovely image to encounter while walking in for some coffee.

—Renee Roederer