We Blinked

Twelve years ago, I held him in my arms at a baseball field in south Louisiana, probably sweating, when a stranger walked by and said, "Cherish these moments, my friend. You'll blink, and he'll be in high school." I didn't know this man, and such statements are often expressed when you have young kids. But here I am, I blinked, and now he's in high school. This particular moment has always stuck with me. It's been at the forefront of my mind ever since it took place, and I've always been preparing for it. Perhaps because I knew this man was right. I knew that this boy in my arms would one day be a teenager in high school. I knew that's how we experience time, days are long, years are short. I knew one day he would neither want nor need me to hold him because that's just how life works. Now, here I am, writing about my son officially moving into his high school years. It doesn't seem that long ago that I was in his position.

I remember the first time Lynn and I dropped him off at daycare in Baton Rouge, LA. I remember his first day of kindergarten in Birmingham, AL, his first day of second grade in New York City, and his first day of seventh grade in Denver, CO. One day, I'll delve into why days can feel long, but years are short. But today, I'm acknowledging just how true that is. I can't believe my boy is now a freshman in high school. I don't view him that way. I still see him as the boy running around the house making blaster noises dressed as Iron Man. I still see him as the boy obsessed with Lightning McQueen, Chuck The Truck, Toodles, and Marvel.

But he's not that boy anymore. He's a young man, becoming a man. Reflecting on my high school years, I feel terrified and excited for him. I made some really dumb decisions during those four years and some really good ones. I made the best friends a person can ask for, and they remain so today. I made unforgettable memories, and some made me think, "What was I thinking?!" I'm sure he'll experience the same.

We mark our lives with milestones. We celebrate births, graduations, and accomplishments, among other things. This is one of those moments. Given my personality, it's easy for me to feel sad and mourn what once was, but that's not what I'm doing today. Today, I'm looking back at Graham's life with gratitude. He's had a good childhood. He's experienced a lot. He's grown up in a loving home with loving parents and a loving sister. He's experienced life in four states, each with distinct cultures. He's been healthy, he's had good friends.

This is just how life works. You live, and you must do your best to cherish the moments you have because they are fleeting. You don't get them back. Perhaps that's the beauty of those moments. Maybe they hold more meaning that way. I'd love to return and hold on to those moments longer, but I can't. 

The takeaway here is to reflect and be thankful. I want to be grateful that I have a son, to be thankful for the 14 years I've had with him, to be grateful for experiencing these milestones, and to be thankful for the opportunities he has in front of him. Not everyone is so fortunate. I suppose that's the moral of the story. To be grateful and celebrate my son's growth because that is the purpose, because I know I will blink again, and he will be graduating high school.