July 27, 2002

• It is my youngest child’s 21st birthday.  Now I have no more “kids”.  All are now adults, and even some of the grand”kids” are adults with kids of their own.  It’s a sobering thought, folks.

  
  

  Speaking of sober, Doug does not plan any of the traditional drinking to celebrate his majority.  He does not drink, has seen enough of drinking and smoking and all of that from his elders, he says.

  
  

  This young man inspires me and warms my heart on a daily basis.  Sometimes I feel some concern that he is neglecting or postponing his own life in order to hang around here and be useful to the old folks.  When I expressed that concern to him, his reply was that he has all he needs:  “Food, shelter, and an internet connection.”

  
  

  When I was about 35, I found my eldest child Marie after a separation of over fifteen years.  She had given birth not long before that to my first grandchild.  Up to then, after having lost, given up, and lost track of my first three kids, I had shied away from giving my heart to any more children.  I was so shy of such commitments that I had no pets for almost a decade.  Then in close succession I took in a stray dog, and I cuddled, kissed and smelled my grandson DJ and lost my heart to him.  That was when I decided to have another child of my own, and heaven help the fool who tried to get that one away from me.

  
  

  Doug is the one I managed to keep.  He’s the proof that I did eventually become an adequate parent.  Most of the credit for it is his, I know.  He is just a wonderful person.  To celebrate his day, I gave him a game for the PC, a carrot cake and the day off from chores.  Tonight, the family will have a steak dinner in his honor.  If you want to send Doug your good wishes, just think them in our direction.  This is the kid who has always obeyed the directions I just think at him better than those I have spoken out loud.

  • 5:41 pm
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