Happy Belated Birthday to Brandon

Last Thursday, July 31st, was Brandon's 17th birthday. I just can't believe it - where has the time gone? It seems like just a short while ago he was standing in the hallway at my bedroom door with his cowboy hat on and his cowboy pistol drawn and pointed at me, telling me to "get in that corner where the bad girls go". This was one of my fondest memories of Brandon as a little boy . . . he was about 4 years old and I had recently gotten on to him for something and told him to "get in that corner where the bad boys go". It was the one and only time I made him stand in the corner. I know now that you aren't supposed to call your kids bad but back then, I didn't think anything about it, and he was acting bad. Anyhoo . . . . a couple of days went by and I had forgotten about the whole incident but my little genius had not. I was in my room dusting and I happened to turn around and see him standing in the doorway, so serious-looking, with his hat on and the gun pointed at me. He said in a gruff little voice, "you get in the corner where the bad girls go." My first thought was how smart he was to change it from boys to girls when he said it to me. Then, I was cracking up but trying to hide it. I told him he better watch his little mouth and go on and play. He did, and then I really let loose some laughter. Ah, the memories.

Brandon's birthday was a little different this year. He didn't know what he wanted or what, if anything, he wanted to do. I'd ask, he'd say he didn't know. We went back and forth until Tuesday, the 29th arrived. I was piddlin' around in the kitchen that evening and he came in and announced, "Well, I'm throwing myself a birthday party tomorrow." Just the way he said it made me laugh - he's funny like that. He said he had invited some friends over to swim and then they were all going to the movies to see Dark Knight (Brandon's 3rd time to see this). He had to do it a day before his birthday because some of his friends had to work on the birthday - he was cool with that. Sure enough they all came and swam and they all went to the movies. When I got home that afternoon, he was a little upset. Being the generous soul that he is, he bought Domino's Pizza for everyone, and ended up buying movie tickets for 2 of the friends. He had spent way too much of his own money and he was not happy. This was not birthday money, but some money he had earned dog/house sitting for Maman'nem while they were on vacation. He finally got over that and the ones he bought tickets for have promised to pay him back - we'll see about that. The next day was his birthday and I took him out that evening to "find" his present. I ended up buying him a web cam so he can make his video clips and stop-motion movie shorts he likes to me - he's very, very good at this. We also got some Chick-fil-A for dinner - we don't have a lot of money right now. He was happy and I was happy that he was happy. The next day, Friday, Aug 1st, I took off work and we got him registered for his senior year in school, which he starts this Thursday. I still just can't believe it. I can't help but be a little sad for myself.

Yesterday, we were still celebrating Brandon because we had plans to be at Maman'nem's and he wanted us to wait and have birthday cake with them. So, I got a cake and took it there and we enjoyed it after eating some good ol' grilled burgers. He's like his mom . . . . makes that one special day last for a week!

He's a great kid, and I am one lucky mom!

Happy Birthday, Brandon - Still.

I love you,

Mom