Ah yes, “This Sign of the Horns.” Whether you view it as a “nod to the goat,” “metal fingers,” “rock fingers,” or even an “homage to the beast,” one thing is certain – the horns go together with rock and roll – and metal – like peanut butter and chocolate. Many, like myself, have adopted the horns as a sign of approval, a friendly gesture to signal that “all is well,” or even in the chosen phrase of Pharrell Williams, that you’re simply “happy.” But they need to be done right. A misplaced thumb can easily shift the horns into “I Love You” territory (sign language) or into the Spider-man web-shooter realm. One thing that everyone can agree on? That throwing up the horns just makes everything better… especially pictures! You see, I have a long-standing habit of tossing up the horns on virtual film, so when another “stay-at-home-dad” started getting coverage on sites like Buzzfeed and The Huffington Post for throwing up the horns in photos of his baby, I heartily approved. But then, being a guy known as “The Rock Father,” everyone and their brother started hitting me with the link. “Have you seen…” Yes, I’ve seen it, and it’s been shared and re-shared dozens of times around groups that I’ve joined, and websites that I frequent. There is nothing innovative about throwing up the horns, nothing unique… but it is special. It just makes the world a better place, and whether its a “Metal Dad,” a “Rock Father,” or anyone else for that matter, horns are a good thing. That said, I decided to go back, just into 2013, and pull photos mostly from my Instagram account, to show just how the horns can make any picture better.
1. When you’re hanging with Daniel Tiger
3. Or The Cat in the Hat…
4. Or Buddy from DINOSAUR TRAIN.
5. Or It’s Me Kelli
6. Or Kristin from Our Ordinary Life…
7. Or a Salsa Dancer selling Shark Vacuums…
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8. Or Optimus Prime…
9. Or Heatwave…
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10. Or The Berenstain Bears…
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11. For doing the WTTW Fun & Run with the family and Abby Cadabby…
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12. For hanging with Mitch aka GayNYCDad…
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13. With a name like this… it’s gotta be good…
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14. For being Chef Rock Father…
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15. For hanging with Tim Smucker…
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16. Or Richard Smucker…
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17. For visiting a wholesome symbol of Americana…
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18. For hanging with Jules
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19. And Joscelyn aka Mami of Multiples…
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20. For appearing on WGN with Marcus LeShock…
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21. Or for sitting in a parked car while your 4-year-old makes that Illuminati Pyramid thing…
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22. For wearing a FREE BIRDS turkey hat…
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23. For hanging in the Batcave with modern Batman, the 1966 Batmobile, and Geoffrey the Giraffe from Toys “R” Us…
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24. For wearing a tie…
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25. For waking up in a hotel…
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26. When your little one wishes your friend from BLEEDING THROUGH a Happy Birthday…
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27. For attending a Fashion Show with Vic from Fandads.com
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28. For posing at the same Fashion Show…
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29. For that time I hit 4,666 friends on Facebook…
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30. For transporting your beautiful kids…
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31. For having a Very Metal Xmas in your Century Media Records Santa hat…
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32. For #ThrowBackThursday (I apologize for ever looking like this)…
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33. For acquiring the Black Widow’s Corvette from Captain America: The Winter Solider…
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34. For visiting your friend Tom in North Hollywood…
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35. For visiting Walt Disney Animation Studios…
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36. For making Olaf from FROZEN METAL!
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37. See Above…
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38. For standing with the spirits of legends…
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39. And finding out where the PLANES come from…
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40. For being a star with the kids…
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41. For getting a check-up and a diddling…
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42. For respecting Dr. Suess…
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43. And visiting CHUCK E. CHEESE…
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44. For visiting Larry the Cable Guy on the set of JINGLE ALL THE WAY 2…
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45. And Anthony Carelli – aka WWE Superstar Santino Marella…
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46. For hanging with Ben Spark and Two Kids and a Coupon…
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47. And reppin PBS…
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48. And meeting (and singing with) Monsters…
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49. For meeting The Uso Brothers at WWE Payback…
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50. And for shopping at Sears…
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51. And then you find some older pictures… like hanging out with John Joyce from POOCHAMUNGAS and Jeff Bogle from Out With the Kids…
52. Or that time Godzilla showed up to WIIL Rock Fest…
53. Or that time you attended a lunch meeting with Wilmer Valderrama…
54. Or paid $22.86 for an average martini…
55. Or that time you directed a music video with monsters in it…
56. Or got really excited that FRANKEN BERRY was back…
57. Or had a great time when Geno from PRODUCT OF HATE got married…
58. Or went to the ballgame with the family…
59. Or staying in Tony Soprano’s room…
60. But the best thing? Seeing the little ones grow and start to really “get it” —
Weird thing is, this is just a tiny sampling of the literally tens of thousands of pictures that I have since becoming a parent just about five years ago. And only a tiny fraction contain the horns… But looking at these, in what is probably the most narcissistic post I will ever do here on THE ROCK FATHER… what good years I’ve had. And the it’s all because of the little ones!
