Happy 21st Birthday Darlin'!

 

We do not have children now...  Both sons are young adults.

We've been raising them for years; we're thrilled with the results.

Youngest son turns 21 today... There'll be a crowd;

Family who love him and the parents he's made proud.

Sitting here - remembering the day that he was born -

Looking back on all the years and trying not to mourn

For the end of childhood and the turning of a page,

Starting a new chapter as we reach this milestone age.

Going out for Mai Tais - which he swears will be his first...

Maybe so, although I'm pretty sure he's quenched his thirst

On a beer or two or six before but, what the hell,

If he's happy and his college grades are doing well?

This is it! Your time to shine, my darlin'... Have some fun.

Happy Birthday - and a few suggestions for you son:

Take it easy when in pubs and don't debate a punk.

Call an Uber and remember - No one likes a drunk.

Happy 23rd Birthday Darlin'

Our son says nobody likes you when you're 23...

I suspect he's quoting Blink 182 at me.

Since our eldest will be turning 23 today,

Want to tell him he should not believe a word they say.

I know lots of people who think he is pretty great;

Funny, smart, and handsome and, on this auspicious date,

As we celebrate another birthday with our son,

We hope he discovers 23 is lots of fun.

It's an age when you're considered one of the adults;

Old enough your education's showing some results,

Young enough you haven't started dragging your caboose

But, when you screw up, you still have youth as an excuse.

Hate to disagree but Blink 182 is wrong;

Twenty-three's the perfect age, so don't believe their song. 

It's your year for doing all the things that you enjoy...

Trust your mom on that and Happy Birthday darlin' boy.

TDS - Getting Sicker by the Day

"You've got Trump Derangement Syndrome," diagnosed my son...

I'm afraid he's right because I tend to come undone

Anytime I hear what else our current president

Said (while his supporters claim "that wasn't what he meant.")

With this new, post-factual environment we're in

I'm becoming deafened by the ever present din

From the White House... Now I've got a ringing in my ears,

My blood pressure's through the roof. I'm frequently in tears.

I am prone to bouts of screaming when I watch the news;

My head spins at diametrically opposing views,

And I'm having trouble seeing how we fix this mess...

Crap! On top of Seussilitis, I've got TDS. 

Goodbye Adam

 (The McCarthy Middle School talent contest version, Adam in a kilt, was better.)

I spent this year's Mother's Day at Adam Gregoire's wake.

It felt like a nightmare and I thought my heart would break

At the pictures of the boy who used to hang around...

Ate and slept here.  Yet, today, they'll lay him in the ground.

He was such a lovely boy; so funny but so sweet.

Taught our son to play guitar and how to keep a beat.

I can still remember them - in triumph on the stage.

Such a talent gone from us at far too young an age.

Both my sons attended with me and they made me proud

As we stood in line and waited with the massive crowd

Come to say goodbye and offer useless sympathy

And, like all but Adam's mom, thank God she wasn't me.

Play-off Beards

Last night, Boston's Bruins beat Toronto's Maple Leafs.

Mr. S., who often mocks my own sports gods beliefs,

Has got his own superstition which is pretty weird;

He, like many hockey fans, has grown a play-offs beard.

I think it looks kinda sexy but could use a trim.

"You can't touch a play-offs beard," he scoffed when I asked him.

Which is rather problematic, since our eldest son

Starts his new job Monday and he's also growing one.

Will his new employers understand or will they think;

"This guy looks like he could not be bothered?" That would stink.

Boston's first game against Tampa's not 'til Saturday...

My guys may not shave 'til June if we go all the way!

Mr. S., who is the boss, can get away with that

But our son might find himself in H.R. for a chat.

If he's lucky, his new boss will be a Bruins' fan -

One who's understanding of the play-offs shaving ban.

Pretty Lies

 

I just bought new clothes... They're in a size I haven't worn

Since the days of long ago; before our sons were born.

It's the size I wore before I dated Mr. S.

Clothing sizes changed a lot in 30 years, I guess.

Please don't get me wrong!  I must admit, it was a thrill

When the zipper on the khakis zipped... But, even still!

This is not the body that I had when this size fit

Even if you factor in the saggy, aging bit.

Clothing manufacturers tell us a fairy tale

Easily disproven by the household's bathroom scale.

30 years ago, this size would not get past these hips.

('though that fact may not prevent some future shopping trips.)

Which, of course, is why they do it - tell us pretty lies.

It's more fun to purchase clothing in a smaller size.

But, I'll bet you anything, if I had vintage pants

In this size, the zipper on them wouldn't stand a chance.

Arming Sister Margaret!

If the GOP agrees to sticking out their necks:

Call for comprehensive, universal background checks,

Give police authority to take somebody's gun,

Raise the legal age to purchase them to 21,

I think we should let the teachers in a school decide

If they want to have a loaded pistol by their side...

If they did - and if they're trained on how to use their guns -

I'm prepared to compromise and let them arm the nuns.

(Sister Margaret was armed... She had her rosary.

She'd begin to swing those beads when she was mad at me.

With that heavy, metal cross that dangled from the end

She was not a woman you would argue with, my friend.)

'though, not everyone is Sister Margaret - Thank God! -

My sons had two State cops coach their Varsity Wrestling squad;

I'd trust guys like them with guns if they brought them to school.

I would make that bargain any day...  I'm not a fool.

If the President's sincere and starts to back away

From positions long supported by the NRA

I think that he'd see his polls dramatically increase.

He would have my full support...  Will wonders never cease?

Happy 20th Birthday

Happy birthday darlin'...  May you have a hundred more.

Hope you smile so much it makes your facial muscles sore.

That still wouldn't make us even...  These last 20 years

You have made me grin and laugh until I was in tears.

You have brought such joy to us, my love, that we'll forgive

Those few times I wasn't sure if we would let you live.

But, I'm really glad we did...  Especially today.

Who wants peace and quiet from their children anyway?

Move-In Day - Part 6

(I believe it's "Freshmen.")

Youngest son is back at school and he'll be sorely missed.

This year, though, I didn't get my panties in a twist.

Didn't weep on move-in day...  Just helped him make his bed,

Put away his clothes and took him out to lunch, instead.

Gave the standard "Carpe' diem" speech and then we left.

This is our 6th move-in day and so we've gotten deft

At the process.  We were in and out in half a day;

Only got a little "misty" when we drove away.

Mostly, I'm just happy for him. This will be his year.

All he has to do is focus (and lay off the beer.)

We have known forever that our youngest son is great.

Now he has to prove it to the folks at Worcester State.

Never Again

 

Our son's moving to the condo that my husband's had

Since before the days he ever dreamed he'd be a dad.

We lived there together later (when we lived in sin.)

Then we bought a house and married...  My sister moved in.

After she moved out, my brother rented for a while.

Now the place could used fresh paint, a rug, some flooring tile.

But, because the rent is low, our darlin' eldest son

Volunteered to get the needed renovations done.

We just finished our house and, although I like to paint,

I've discovered that I lack the patience of a saint

Which is a requirement for those who'd renovate -

Waiting on a phone call from the flooring guy...  Who's late.

I have learned my lesson from our first reno-go-round,

When the building contractor is nowhere to be found,

I'm too old to deal with that again.  The kid is young.

But, I'm there for painting walls or getting pictures hung.

Congratulations Darlin'

 

Oldest son is now a graduate of Plymouth State.

May have had a bumpy start but - Wow! - he finished great:

Straight As...   Now he's planning on a graduate degree.

He is proving quite the credit to our family tree.

Happy 19th Birthday Darlin'

My handsome, smart, funny, youngest son and his dad.

 

This birthday's the last one I'm the mother of a teen;

19 years ago our son arrived upon the scene...

We thought he was perfect then and, frequently, still do.

I cannot believe - next year - his age will start with 2.

Our poor son will always be my little boy to me,

Never mind the fact that he's already 6 foot 3

(Plus, I swear, the boy's still growing taller everyday)

And the brownish hair I had is now completely gray.

Evidence the years are quickly passing I ignore

Even as I wish our son a happy hundred more.

But, if I should live to see that, hope it won't annoy

Him to learn that, even then, he'll be my little boy.

Empty Nest Syndrome

With our sons away at school our home's an empty nest

And, though life is good, it also lacks a certain zest.

Now that it is just we three - my husband and our dog -

You might think that I'd be busy working on my blog.

But, instead, I'll take a nap or read another book

And my only challenge is deciding what to cook.

Lately I've been cleaning closets...  It's a task I hate.

(I'm a sloppy housekeeper.  It's a genetic trait.)

All this free time's made me crazy.  Know how I can tell?

I have felt the urge to clean the basement up, as well.

Ask the folks who know me and I think they'd all agree

Something drastic must be wrong 'cause that is not like me.

Happy 21st Birthday Darlin'

 

Oldest son turned twenty-one today.  That went by fast!

Something I did not believe when told so in the past.

Pregnancy felt endless and my labor longer still...

(Obstetrician would have died that day if looks could kill.)

It seems only yesterday they placed him in my arms,

When I swore that we would keep him safe from any harms.

'though we swiftly learned that life, sometimes, won't go to plan

It's not long, at all, from child to boy to fine, young man.

Happy Birthday darlin'.  Now that drinking is allowed

I know you'll remember all you've learned and make us proud:

Nothing's less attractive than some loud, obnoxious drunks

Except for the aftermath...  On knees and blowing chunks.

Walt Disney Made Me Cry, Again

(I actually started weeping about 5 minutes before this scene.)

 

Saturday our youngest graduated Chelmsford High.

Band played Pomp and Circumstance and I began to cry,

Watching as his friends and he processed across the floor,

Got diplomas, tossed their caps...  And then I cried some more.

I've been very weepy lately. Watched Toy Story 3;

Mr. S. came in and caught the movie's end with me.

I was sobbing openly; he shed a tear or two.

We're both happy for our son but, still, I'm feeling blue.

He'll be heading off to college and can hardly wait,

Looking forward to his future life at Worcester State;

Making plans and saying his good-byes to all his friends...

While I sit and wonder at how quickly childhood ends.

I've been looking backward to when both our boys were young;

When their Buzz and Woody toys were casually flung

Into corners, under beds... The hours that I spent

Picking up those toys but, now, I wonder where they went.

I know I must look ahead because we can't go back;

Need to force a smile and help my college student pack,

Give him love and confidence so he can seize the day...

Then I might go look for Buzz and make sure he's okay.

Decision Made

Youngest son has picked a college; he chose Worcester State.

We just took the tour with him and thought the school was great.

It's the perfect place for him; somewhere he can excel...

If he puts the effort in, which only time will tell.

This bright apple of our eye fell not far from the tree.
 I know our son's really smart but he's a lot like me;

I am a procrastinator... Lazier than hell.

I'm afraid he may have those genetic traits, as well.

If so, I don't envy him.  His major, unlike mine,

Takes a lot of planning, work, and math but he'll be fine

If he got a single gene for logic from his dad

He will be the brightest star that Worcester State has had.