The last one to high school...

My youngest had his first day of high school yesterday.  I drove him but before we got in the car, I wanted to take a picture.  He rolled his eyes and gave me the "look".  I persisted and so did he.  Finally, I told him he was a spoiled brat and he needed to go over and stand for a picture.  Here is the result.

This child was an afterthought.  He came along when I had my girl and my boy and thought I was done having babies.  I was thinking about another one and then my mother became ill and died.  I remember when she was in the living room in the hospital bed when I asked her, "Mom, should I have another baby?"  She thought for a long time and then said, "I like babies, I always have."  That next night, she was gone.  Shortly thereafter, in the fog of grief, I was doing the EPT test and it had a plus sign.  I remember wondering when "it" happened, since I didn't remember things for a few months after my mother died. 

I didn't put the crib up until Thanksgiving.  He was born on December 1st and that was the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  I was definitely having an epidural because I didn't want to feel anything.  Of course, that didn't work.  Jim took the kids to church while I labored at home.  When they got home, I was still ok so he started to make them breakfast when I decided it was time to go to the hospital.  We drove fast and walked in fast.  I told the admitting nurse that I was having and epidural and "let's get going"...then, just like they say, my water broke like someone dropped a jar of pickles...while I was reading the epidural consent.  "Beautiful" I thought.  All at once, I was in hard labor and just mad.  The cute little intern told me to lay down to see where I was and I couldn't.  Finally I did and he gave me the news...no epidural but a baby in the next few minutes.  I was in the hospital for about 40  minutes and this kid was born.  He was close to 10 pounds and was the most adorable thing I have ever seen.  All that baloney about not having another baby went out the window and he completed our family.

Now he is in high school.  For some reason, driving him up to the school made me sentimental.  "Be who you are" I said..."You're such a good boy" and "Dad and I are so proud of you" but before I finished with my wisdom, the door slammed and he was going up the steps to the front door.  He said he wasn't excited but I could tell he was.

Things seem to go faster from here.  When the Queen went to high school, it took about two blinks of an eye and she was moving to college.  My middle kid is in his last year at this high school and I am trying to pretend that he isn't. 

This morning, the boys got in the car, with my middle son at the wheel.  My youngest was in the passenger seat looking cool.  The car backed out and I could hear the radio...loud.  I thought the memories that are being created in that car for a couple of brothers that have trouble being civil at times but secretly adore each other.  It brought a smile to my face. 

I guess if you have to be a freshman in high school, having a big brother around isn't a bad deal...as a matter of fact...it's the best.

We'll tawk tommorrow,
I love you all,
Terry