Big Dumb Eyes: Stories from a Simpler Mind

Bargatze credits his parents with fostering the loving environment that allowed him to become a successful adult. Bargatze’s appreciation for his parents is clear from the first pages of Big Dumb Eyes. He reflects fondly on his childhood throughout the book, commenting, “My childhood was pure dumb funny, but that pretty much only happened because my dad got all the miserable stuff out of the way” (13). The only source of love in Bargatze’s dad’s life was Bargatze’s mom, who he met at a young age, and then, eventually, Bargatze and his two siblings when they were born. Bargatze’s dad is depicted as someone who is grateful to have found a loving family, and he would do anything to support them. Similarly, Bargatze describes his mother as “pretty much a living saint” (9). The superlative descriptions are likely exaggerated: No family or parent is perfect. Bargatze relies on his readers to know this and make their own judgments about the family portrait he presents.

When Bargatze is young, his family struggles with money, but his parents still buy Bargatze a car when he’s a teenager, pay for his first year of college, and generally support him in any way they can.