Inheritance

The night of August 22^nd, I couldn’t sleep. It was like everything had changed even though most everything felt the same!

Somewhere between 3 and 4 am, I decided to pen a song for ASid. Here it is:

I am not Kipling

I ain't no writer
I am not Polonius
I ain't no character

But I got the same advice

For your commencement

Grandpa's kind words

Grandma's good deeds
Your dad's blood
Your mom's sweat

Can't bank them

Can't stash them

Life ain't no race

Can't be a horse
Be a donkey son
Carry your share boy

At the end of the day

We all fall down
When you survive the night
Make it count

Live your life

Don't waste time
Death is waiting
For all of us

Grandpa's kind words

Grandma's good deeds
Your dad's blood
Your mom's sweat

Can't bank them

Can't stash them

Use them boy

They are your inheritance

 It is my fond hope that one day I will write a song that is good enough for someone to sing. That is one other bit of me I would like to leave behind.

 

Words are NOT enough

A friend of mine once called me a wordsmith. It is a nice compliment, but it realistically and simply means that I may be better at putting together two words than her other friends!

For the last few days, I have been struggling to write about an upcoming 18^th birthday. I am quite overwhelmed with emotion and can’t seem to find the right words to describe it all. It is true that we could be prepared for a moment; eventually get there, and realize that we are not really prepared for it!

ASid turns 18 tomorrow, Thursday, August 22^nd.

18 is the age of majority in Ontario and that means ASid will legally be considered an adult. It is amazing how overnight one goes from being a child to an adult!

On this momentous birthday, I want ASid to know that I am very gratified with the way he has turned out. He is most definitely not perfect, but who is?! He has been a great kid and I know he will be a wonderful adult. ASid is ready for the next chapter in his life and I can’t wait to find out what he does.

A very happy birthday baby boy!

I will miss our morning conversations. I will miss you gaming with your little brother. I will miss your friends walking in and out of our home. I will miss your emotional outbursts … maybe not that much!

As you adjust and adapt to campus life and being on your own, I will try to catch up on some of the sleep I have lost over the last 18 years. As you finally take some time to get to those prepaid driving lessons, I will try to get my own driving license. As you go forth and make your mark on the world, I will try to write the book you so badly want me to write.

Life is not a race. Take your time. You will probably get there, wherever you want to be, sooner than I do. And each time, I will be at that invisible crossing line … quietly cheering you on.

Level 4000

It may not seem like an achievement for most people, but I want to announce it here anyways!

I completed level 4000 of Candy Crush Saga at 11:30 pm on August 5th, 2019. I got a special message ("You did it!") and a reward (a bunch of specials) from the Candy Crush team who recently announced and celebrated the fact that they created level 5000!

I guess there is another milestone level to work towards and I am sure they are not stopping at 5000.

Yesterday was also my friend Maddy’s birthday. A while ago, she posted something about referring to birthdays as reaching levels - instead of saying “I am celebrating my 45^th birthday”, I could say that “I have reached level 45”!

Somehow that does make it sound like “I am getting better” instead of “I am getting older”.

The boys are aware of my little guilty pleasure. I believe it took me almost 3 years to get to this level. The first time I was at a 900+ level and then, I had to get a new phone. It was a bit sad to lose all those levels and I refused to restart from level 1 on the new phone. However, I needed something fun to do at the end of the day. Candy Crush can be frustrating; however I use it mostly for relaxing.

On that note, I do not want anyone to be concerned about my sanity. On a recent road trip, I did not play Candy Crush at all and I had no withdrawal symptoms whatsoever.

With my multiple jobs, there is no danger of an addiction. I still watch a movie in a few instalments. I am there for my family and friends. I meet or beat my deadlines. I do get out. I am mostly normal.

So, I hope people perceive reaching level 4000 as some sort of a crazy accomplishment and celebrate with me! Thank you!