Evelyn: My kid turned 16 today, something I remember trying to imagine when he fit into my arms and stared at me with big chocolate eyes and a mop of soft curls on his head. It seemed so far away— 16—and I couldn't imagine myself at 40 either. And here he is, walking tall, the mop of soft curls turned into a thick hippie-heap that makes most women gawk with jealousy. He is funny and smart and turning into what I hear is a true teenager... just as long as he doesn't ask to start driving, I may just survive.
Monica: Before my parents left today, we had breakfast together at the Little River Inn. After we said goodbye and watched them drive away, I trudged up the hill to our car, my heart heavy and sad. As I got in the car, I saw a patch of blooming dahlias before me, dewy and new. I grabbed my camera and felt a little better for having seen and captured a bit of their beauty.
On another note, today is my nephew's 16th birthday. It feels like he's officially not a kid anymore—he's entering the first realms of adulthood. It seems like yesterday when I was at my sister's side, witnessing her giving birth and welcoming this new human who has since grown into an intelligent, funny, and quirky young man with a Rubix cube obsession. I see bits of my father in him, bits of my sister, and even bits of myself. I hope his journey into adulthood is filled with exciting and profound discoveries and he learns to navigate through the world with confidence and compassion. I hope he always has the courage to follow his heart and to be open to the hearts of others. Happy birthday, JP. Welcome to the world again.
Miss Evelyn,
ReplyDeleteThe picture of JP is number 1 in my photos. He is sooo handsome and a great young man. He can be a model, too.