Reflections on our son turning 18...

Michael turned 18 this weekend. And I found myself thinking of the silly things in his life that are uniquely memories of him...

The little boy who always wanted to be picked up...he would stand at your feet and say "Up me, up me, up me, up me," until you gave in and picked him up.

The special locks we had to put on all 3 doors because he was a master escape artist and the neighbors would drag him home in his diaper, which is all he slept in because it was too hot. We had to put them WAY UP on the door, almost at the very top, so he couldn't even reach them with a chair (I'm amazed he didn't figure out how to push out the screens and get out that way).

The scary pyromaniac phase he went through, setting his dresser, a basketball and the back yard grass on fire. Thank GOD he outgrew that.

The way he was always talking to everyone on the bus, so that everytime we all got off the bus all the women on the bus would wave and say, "Bye, Michael". He was a consummate flirt even then.

The day he got off the bus when Sean was an infant in my arms, and raced onto the ACC campus. I didn't know what to do, put Sean down and risk the bus taking off with him, run with Sean in my arms, I knew I'd never catch him...when a gentleman on the bus took off after him and brought him back in 60 seconds. Thank GOD.

The funny way he and Sean first related once Sean learned to talk. He always wanted Michael to pay attention to him, but Michael was usually too busy to. So you'd hear, "Michael," "Michael," "Michael," "Michael," "Shut up, Sean." Only to begin again in 5 minutes!!! Too funny.

I miss my little boy, but I know that he will be ok. That kids grow up everyday. That he'll find his way, whatever that is, and that he'll have a full and interesting life. Thanks for sharing the first 18 years of your life with me, Michael. I wouldn't have missed it for the world.