Max

Biologically, a parent

is always a parent

and your child

is always your child

But there comes a time

when the child

becomes an adult

and the relationship changes

I am so glad that

over the years

we have always been friends

and that hasn't changed

What has changed

is that now 

you are an adult too

and you're still my best friend

I have talked to you

since before you were born

We've laughed at little kid things

and now grown up stuff too

We've had some rough times

but we've come through them just fine

You are a great kid

and I'm glad you're my friend.

Max's List

We have always kept a grocery list on the refrigerator.  The theory is that when you notice you are using the last of something (or god forbid getting close to the last of something) or you want something that we are already out of you write it on the list.  The truth is that more often than not I'm the one to write most of the stuff down.  When the kids first attempt to write something (like candy) on the list in beginner penmanship it has been amusing.  Never, has it purposefully been used for comic effect.  Until now...

This morning as I went to the fridge to get the butter for my toast and the milk for my latte I noticed writing on the list.  I had gone to the grocery store just a couple of days ago, I knew I hadn't started a new list yet, and the younger kids are with their dad this weekend.  

Hmmm...I wonder what Max wants from the store?

Vodka

Tequila

Strippers

Fireworks (the big illegal kind)

Happy-in-a-can

Monkeys

Midgets

Midget-Monkeys

*SNORT* Good thing I wasn't already drinking my tea...

Now I wonder how long he's been waiting for me to notice...

Sach's Covered Bridge

You can read the prologue to my New Year's Day photo shoot here.

The first place we stopped was Sach's Covered Bridge.  

While I enjoy taking photos for their artistic merit, I also love documenting a place so that others can get a sense of the history as well; a sense of the place as a whole.

So basically, this is a beautiful place; just not a fun place.

I love that it was a conversation with Max that prompted me to make this trip to Gettysburg and that I saw this inside the bridge. Made me smile.

I Remember

I remember when I was pregnant with my first son how when I slouched at my desk I would get a reminder to sit up straight in the form of a tiny foot being jammed up between my ribs. I remember learning all the words to Joshua Kadison's song Painted Desert Serenade and singing it about a million times. I remember reading the Harry Potter books together; I read the first and second stories aloud, by the third one he was reading it himself, and by the last one I had to wait my turn to get my hands on it.

So many sweet and silly memories of Max as a little boy that it's sometimes difficult to see him as he is today and realize that this handsome young man is the same person. How can that be? It was just yesterday...

Now, he's the tallest person in the house. We were at his Grandmother's house Friday evening. His Great Uncle, second cousin, and second cousin once removed (I think, I never get those relationships right) were visiting overnight. Anyway, when one of Nana's cats made an appearance Max scooped him up so that his little cousin, Amelia, could have a chance to pet him. Without being asked. 

Later he was back at the table trying his best not to look bored while the adults caught up around him. 

Yesterday was his prom. How is it possible that this young man is the same person who shoved his tiny foot up between my ribs and gave me so much indigestion?

Oh, yeah. I'm getting old. And, he's still giving me indigestion.

Derailed

Wednesday, September 9th was a good day.

I talked to my buddy Pete first thing in the morning. We got caught up on the goings-on in each other's lives. This only takes a couple of seconds-there isn't much going on. But, it's still great to hear his grumpy voice.

Then, I talked to my bff, Ron, while I headed south to Chambersburg. I hadn't been to the "Yarn Basket" in at least a year if not longer.  I wanted to reaquaint myself with the lovely little shop as well as look for the fiber for the cute little spring jacket I have been thinking about.

Ron and I had one of our off-the-walls conversations where we go from one strange topic to another in a stream of conscience sort of way; laughing most of the time.

At the yarn shop I found orange sock yarn for Jake (don't ask), some purple-ish sock yarn for me, and the sweetest alpaca yarn in pastels that just screams (ok, it whispers) spring.

I made my way back home with my newly acquired treasure and shortly after I arrived the nice day ran off the rails.

I'm not talking a glitch. Or an inconvience. No minor setbacks here.  I'm talking blood and guts, smoke and flames spewing, get the medic kind of this-aint-gonna-fix-itself and it-aint-gonna-be-pretty disaster.  The kind where years later you still remember where you were and what you were doing when you heard the news.

Addison and Max came in the house together. On this otherwise lovely Wednesday. In the middle of the day. Silently.

Max had been suspended. And made to clean out his locker. And was now waiting to find out if he would be allowed to return to the school.  Ever.

My uninspired, unmotivated, unenthusiastic, ADD-challenged 16 year old had (with a couple of his buddies) signed himself out of study hall and gone to "the cove" (an area at the bottom of the stair well decorated with fish and furnished with a bench and a desk) to study. He got bored.  He played with a broken lighter.  When it finally lit (to his surprise) he used it to light the corner of a piece of paper on fire.  He blew it out in the same instant.  A teacher walked through and saw the corner of the paper still glowing.  A jackass of a teacher who doesn't particularly like Max.  He got caught.

He got written up.  He was later yanked  out of lunch by the Head of the Upper School and told, "I want you out of my school". Addison was called at work.  Max cleaned out his locker.

So, they were home.  On that beautiful Wednesday in September. Max sat at the dining room table with his head hung down in shame and bewilderment.  Addison sat in the living room with his head in his hands fighting back the tears of anger and disbelief.

I didn't know what to think. What to say?  What to do?