Share the Love

Jumping into the "Share the Love" party over at

"Very Merry Vintage Style" today!

This is the love that I will share...

My son, Richard

 (Confirmation, Age 16)

He turns 18 in one week and he's graduating from high school in 9 days!

I can't believe how fast time flew since he was little!

It was yesterday he was in kindergarten and I was going to the first awards ceremony where he won "Computer Whiz Kid".

We had just moved into this house and he had just discovered Playstation. He spent many hours playing "Spyro the Dragon" back then and collecting Pokemon cards.

 (Last Memorial Day at Lane Orchards)

As the years went by, he traded video games for a guitar.

He was just named a Senior Superlative. I'm not sure exactly what it means, but it's an honor and I think it has to do with

good citizenship.

The nomination came from a teacher he has done many

hours of volunteer work with.

He helps coordinate Red Cross blood drives and does sound

work for school performances.

As a theatre student, he performed in plays for local

 school children.

Obviously, I am very proud of my son. He's grown into quite a young man. He's funny, talented, personable and polite,

both intellectual and spiritual.

 (preparing for Senior pics last fall)

As an only child in need of playmates, he never met a stranger and was never too shy to make friends easily.

Now he works part time and is saving to buy his first car. He's planning to major in music in college. He manages his own band and hosts their rehearsals in our basement.

I know he will excell at anything

he most loves doing!

I see how driven he is to become a musician and I am slightly jealous that I didn't want some of my dreams that much

 when I was his age!

But I want all of his dreams for him as much as he does...

Maybe more.

(Richard, after his performance as "Hamlet", age 13 and my sister, Janet) 

I know he'll be in this nest a while longer but I still miss the little boy who played with trains, read Harry Potter and rode his big wheel down the driveway as much as I enjoy knowing

the grown up version of him!