The Travel Bug

 

Quote of the Day:  Taking a page from my own photo album (circa 1988).

 

Here I am having a snack at the airport/train connection in Frankfurt, Germany, during my study abroad experience. I wrote: The starting point of a one month tour of Europe.

(My early days of "blogging!")

Top picture: Me at the Frankfurt station.

Bottom picture: Me and Ric at the Munich train station, heading to Italy.

 

Last year, I posted this picture of my First Born, graduating high school, here in Minnesota, and heading to Texas Tech University for school.

 

Bobby who says, "Texas or Bust."

 

This year's cake (if we'd gotten one) would say, "Spain or Bust!"

Yep, he's taking the summer semester in Spain. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Again, I can only blame myself. I spent a full semester in Germany, January-May 1988, and added one more month of travel before I came home. It's an experience of a life time.

 

Bobby, ready to board the airport shuttle to start his European Adventure!

 

I sent a text message to his dad after I wiped a tear from my eye: He's off on the Lakes Express.

Reply from his dad: I am a combination of nervous and excited for him.

Me too, I wrote back.

 

What an exciting time of life, to be 19 and have the world at your feet. I feel so many emotions. I wish I could be there with him to make sure he gets safely to his destination and connects with the group. I'm proud of him for braving it on his own. I want to experience it with him, but know that it's his journey to take. So, with a tight squeeze and a kiss on the cheek, I sent him off by saying, "I love you. Have fun, and be safe."

 

Go. Create. Inspire!

 

Journaling Prompt:  Write about your own grand adventures, or sending off a loved one. (I don't know how the military moms survive it. It's tough enough sending them off for an education.)



 

B is for Bobby and Bravo!

Letter of the Day:  B
B is for Bobby, my first-born son.
B is also for Bravo, that shout of praise at the end of a performance.  Did you know that Bravo is the praise word for a man, and Brava is the word to use for a woman?  My sister Joy, who is learning Italian and is also a performer - singer, actor, all that jazz (also sings jazz), gave me that quick lesson.  If the performers are mixed, then Bravo is fine.

B is also for baby.  This is a picture of Bobby, my first-born, holding his new baby brother when he came into our lives 13 years ago.  Bobby is offically a Robert, but he was Bobby as soon as he flashed me those baby blues!  When his little brother, Zach, was born, he felt him grasp his finger and he asked, "Is he as strong as Superman?"  As soon as we brought him home, he said, "When can he wrestle?" 

A few years later, twin boys entered the picture. Now, I'm a MOBO, mother of boys only. And, oh, boy, can that be a blast!


Bobby is a great older brother.  He is a defender against bullies, and loves to play games.  He'll graduate from high school next year, and plans to be some kind of engineer.  I can see him inventing new games.  Bravo, Bobby!


Journaling Prompt:  Do you have brothers or sisters?  Write about your wild rumpuses!

17 Years of Motherhood, and counting

Quote of the Day:  The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one.  from The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

My first born son turned 17 this weekend. He recently read "Catcher" and posted this quote on his facebook page.  I think he really liked the book.  He said that he plans to post a quote from good books that he reads.  Hmm. That sounds familiar. 

He once asked me if I had posters of rock stars on the walls of my bedroom when I was a girl.  I said, "No, I wasn't in love with rock stars.  But, Nancy (my sister) had pictures up of all the stars.  Her room was wall-papered with ripped out pages of Teen magazine."

"What did you have you your walls, Mom...horses?"

"Well, yes," I said.  "How did you know?"

Bobby rolled his eyes.  "There's two kinds of girls.  Those who are in love with rock stars and those who love horses."

He had it figured out by age 14.

He's a scholarly fellow, this first born son.  He likes good literature, thinking games, deep discussions, historical films, and technology.  We went to The King's Speech together.  I thought it was more of a gift to me, but he really liked it, and we talked about it afterwards.  It's a great movie about a man who never thought he'd be good enough to be king, or give inspiring speeches, or appear strong.  But, he did.  In making himself vulnerable to a commoner with great instincts and caring, he conquered fear.

Seventeen years ago, I was a new mom.  He was born at noon on a Saturday, 9 lbs. 3oz. and ready for lunch.  Both of us opened our eyes to new life and all the possibilities.

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt:  What posters or decorations did you have in your childhood bedrooms?  When did life take on new meaning for you?

Driver's License

Quote of the Day:  Life is a highway, and I want to ride it all night long. - Rascal Flatts

(Click Here for the YouTube video from the movie Cars.)

First Born turned 16 on Friday, Feb. 26. 
First Born had friends over to celebrate - junk food and video game fest.  (I'm so lucky that he has really nice friends.) 
First Born had his last behind-the-wheel driving instruction on Sunday.
First Born took his driver's test AND PASSED today!

Holy Smokes!

I'll have to say that teaching First Born to drive has been the hardest parenting task, yet! Not that he's terrible.  He does pretty well.  It's an exercise in letting go, as is the entire journey of parenting.  And, when you're sitting in the passenger's seat, you realize just how little control you have over the journey, the driver, and your reactions.  I didn't want to be the kind of mom who holds her breath the minute he steps on the gas, or over-correct, or get a little excited.  But, when he was backing out of the drive-way on Thanksgiving morning for the three hour trip to Grandma's house, I said, "Put on the brake.  Stop.  You need to..." Bang! he hit the mailbox.  The van was fine.  The mailbox lay lifeless on the ground.  I consider it a break-away mailbox.  It came that way when we moved into our current house. The snowplow knocked it off.

I knit prayer shawls.  When I'm the driving instructor/parent on trips to Grandma's house, I knit, and pray.

When First Born pulled away from the curb with Driving Tester in the passenger seat, I said a little prayer, "Dear Jesus, be the co-pilot."  I sang another good journey song in my head, The River by Garth Brooks. In that song, he's sailing a vessel, not driving a car, but I like the line, There's bound to be rough waters, and I know I'll take some falls, but as the Good Lord as my captain, I can make it through them all.

The day you get your driver's license is a memorable day.  It's the birthday of your independence.  You are licensed to drive.  You have newly born freedoms, newly born responsibilities. You can really go places.  Now, if you can just afford the gas.

Journaling Prompt:  Do you remember the day you got your driver's license?  Write about it, or a memorable driving experience, like the first time you got the car on your own and went out with friends.