My baby boy turns 17 today. Gee that makes me sound old, and even more scary… it makes him old. All the big celebrating is over — he already has his blog site (which was granted early so he could begin expressing himself). It still needs a few tweaks, but it’s usable now and I hope to complete the remaining items this week.
He already has his silver pattern addition (I managed a salad fork and a spoon this year). He collects a Tiffany pattern and it’s taking some time, but I hope to get him a complete 2 place set before he leaves home. That way, my gourmet-cook son can entertain someone special for dinner as well as enjoy them on a daily basis for himself. Maybe it’s weird (Wayne thinks it is) but Alex, Byron and I all have our own silver pattern that we use. I have a complete one place setting (a beautiful, overworked baroque style of sterling). Byron now has a two forks and two spoons. Alex only has a spoon right now (hers is a lily pattern that is also terribly ornate that she selected and requested for her birthday this year.) She’s already requested a fork for the next occasion.
We already did Byron’s big surprise (the concert). I was afraid that today would be a little anti-climatic after all the lead up stuff, but he got so excited this weekend when he realized that at 17 he no longer has to get permission to go to a rated R movie. That seemed to be a very big deal.
Tonight, we will break into the chocolate madness cheesecake he requested and some triple-chocolaty ice cream. At times like these, I know he’s mine! He, Alex and I are all chocolate freaks. Wayne prefers caramel-type flavors and Nicholas likes a variety.
So we will settle in and light a few candles and wish my youngest son well as he transitions into adulthood over a plateful of chocolate.
Wednesday, I’ll be taking my eldest son (now out of the military) up north in the state to the apartment he’s planning on sharing with a buddy, so he can begin the next stage of his life as an adult.
And tomorrow, I think I’m going to spend a little extra time with Alex, before I blink and she grows up too. She’s decided that she wants a big girl hair-cut, and I know that once she gets it, the little girl I knew and loved will transform into a young lady. With the kids, it always seems to be a radical haircut that changes them from childhood into the next phase. I dread that. I really do.
(Note: Image taken from stock.xchng courtesy of photographer melodi2)
