They sat around my dining room table, eating barbeque chips by the handful, drinking Sprites and talking genetics and amoebas. Some of them my son has known since middle school - a bunch of nerdish kids quite possibly bound for those coveted Ivy League schools in a year. Quite possibly doing something grand with their lives. My baby was turning 17 to the noise of academic chatter and crunching of the chips.
Later on that evening, they would play Rock Band, and some of the kids would sing their hearts out - some well, others, not so much. We, the adults chaperoning the occasion, would laugh, play a few songs with the kiddos, and forgo the evening cleanup to catch a few hours of sleep before dawn. Next year, my baby will probably not want to celebrate at home. Next year, he'll be chaperone-free, surrounded by unruly teenagers, flirting with girls and looking for adventure. That's just the way it is, and I wouldn't begrudge him any of it, but for now, I am tickled pink that he chose to celebrate at home, which left all sorts of room for public displays of affection on our parts, and sharing of those embarrassing little kid stories.
This was the last hurrah for the kiddo. In June, he will take the dreaded SAT and the rest of the summer will be spent in filling out college applications, and in learning to say goodbye to people and places that defined him up till now. He has no clue about what he wants to be when he grows up, but he knows who he is. Unfortunately for his eventual pocketbook, the stuff he is good at and enjoys is all in the artsy-can't-make-a-living category. He probably will not own the most expensive car, or ever flaunt a pair of Prada's. Lucky for him, he seems entirely content with not having those things. Chances are, he would succeed at anything he tried. Chances are he will choose with his heart, and the decision will be less than pragmatic. He is a dreamer. He dreams in rhapsodies and snowflakes and flutter of monarch's wings. Wherever his life's journey takes him I hope he never grows weary of his dreams... After all everything else can be bought. The only difference is the price tag.
Happy birthday sweet kiddo. May you always be you.
Inna Hardison is the owner of Ha Media Group, a full service small kick-ass ad agency.
For all your printing needs, visit www.hamediashop.com and get great quality Postcards, Business Cards, Flyers and more at awesome prices. For pring and web design, see our design portfolio at www.teamhardison.com
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:-)
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