Sleepy Heads

Writing is relaxing,
Remembering is taxing.

A favorite picture, Amanda, Patrick, and Aaron. After a night of too many movies and too little sleep, we are on our way to Green Lake to return Amanda to home. Patrick is wearing a T-shirt which belonged to Amanda's brother Kristopher, handed over to Aaron, and then down to Patrick. Today, Amanda is a Junior at Pepperdine, Patrick just came home from visiting her, and the shirt was returned to Kristopher's parents for passing on to his name-sake cousin and God Son, Noah Kristopher. He will have to grow a bit, but I know the shirt will be well worn by the time it gets to Noah's brother, and Aaron's God Son, Alex

Most of my memories this spring have been recalling each day from one year earlier. So near yet so far. April has easy landmarks. There was lots of growth and change going on as our oldest was getting ready to leave the nest.

The time was right. I think Cathy and I were coming to terms with letting Aaron fly. I'm not terminally unique, so my anxiety over the first child moving out on his own at 18 was likely a shared emotion with others. Fear of loss, failure, control, and a host of other ofs might be what parent-child conflicts are made of. Projecting my fears wasn't much of a confidence builder for any of us. Not sure. my experience was too short, but having time to reflect, I suspect there might be something to the hunch.

I will see what I can learn from birds this spring-summer. They seem to have it right. I'm going to do better with Patrick.

Ready for warm spring days.

Tom