It's amazing, but my son—not exactly a teen any longer—seems to be the reincarnation of that 1950s television character.

My son is far too young to remember Maynard. In fact, by the time Kevin was born, Maynard had already turned into Gilligan, had been deserted on and then rescued from an uncharted desert isle, and was released in syndication.

Still, despite never seeing Maynard on TV, Kevin's got the act down perfectly. Hey, he's even got the scruffy little goatee going.

And when I suggested recently that he might want to do a few odd jobs to earn a few extra bucks, he blurted, "Work!"

Now don't get me wrong. Kevin's a great kid and will no doubt go on to do great things, given his bloodlines (and we're not talkin' his mother's side here). Hey, he was a scholar/athlete in high school, and now he's doing pretty well in college.

It's just in the area of gainful employment where he's a little deficient. He's just never had a great work ethic.

Oh, don't get me wrong. He was always one of the hardest workers on his football and baseball teams, but that doesn't pay anything. It's just that he's 21 now, and it's been a while since he's had what you'd call a real job.

The time has come for the kid to join the real world. From now until the time he returns to college in the fall, I'd like to see him out in the workforce.

So I dropped a few hints.

I taped the old '50s song "Get a Job" and punch it into his stereo every time he comes around, and I stuff the "help wanted" section of the newspaper inside the sports section so he's sure to see it.

Sound subtle enough? Well, it's lost on him. So I had to take the direct approach.

"Get a job!" I said to him the other day.

"Oh, I am," he said with a smile.

My heart skipped a beat. A tear came to my eye. I was too choked up to speak.

"It's at a gym," he went on to say. "Pays nine bucks an hour, and the great thing is that I can work out for free."

There are times in your life when your kids do memorable things. Like take their first step, say their first word, and get a job that actually pays ... this was truly a "Kodak moment."

I could hardly speak I was so giddy, but managed to ask, "When do you start?"

"Oh, I don't have the job yet," he said. "I just turned in my application."

"You what?" I felt like a mule had just kicked me in the stomach.

"I just turned in my application. I'm waiting for them to call me."

"You and a hundred others!" I blurted. He looked surprised.

"Of course you wouldn't want to apply anywhere else," I said with just the hint of sarcasm in my voice. "You wouldn't want to be busing tables, pumping gas or washing cars if the gym called and wanted you!"

"Right, Dad," he agreed. "I'm glad you understand."

Maynard G. Krebs lives.

Want to talk? Call me at 408.354.3110, ext. 31, or drop me a note at dsparrer@svcn.com.